A Goliath battery being developed in the UK has so far passed every test sent its way, except perhaps for one thrown stone.

After beating the acclaimed nail penetration test, Ilika’s P1 solid state cell prototype appears poised to provide an alternative to expensive lithium-ion cells, according to to a press release from the developer.

“Ilika has designed solid state cells intended to provide a safer alternative to high energy lithium-ion batteries,” Ilika CEO Graeme Purdy said in the release.

Ilika has been around since 2004 and manufactured smaller batteries for medical devices earlier in its history. Work on Goliath began in 2018, and it could soon become a big thing to push electric vehicles. By 2023, the pack reached storage capacity “parity with lithium-ion” devices, per a company’s timeline.

When batteries workions move between two electrodes through a substance called an electrolyte. The common liquid version has a greater fire hazard than the solid state chemistry developed in laboratories around the world. The technology is poised to provide greater range, faster loading times and safer cycles, according to to reports from Forbes and ScienceDaily.

IEEE Spectrum offers some caution amid the whirlwind of solid-state breakthroughs recently announced. Its report says validation of performance and materials is likely to take some time to complete before the technology can become mainstream.

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Passing the nail penetration test is a big win for Goliath.

It’s as intense as it sounds, because a spike is driven into the cell, creating a short circuit. In other batteries, this invasive scenario causes overheating, thermal runawayand fire. The Goliath stayed cool during the test, below 176 degrees Fahrenheit. Power packs breaking apart can exceed 1,112 degrees, everything per Ilika.

The point is driven home clearly in a video clamp shows the sample. Nails are forced through both a lithium ion battery and a Goliath pack. The lithium on the left experiences failure, complete with sparks and flames. Ilika’s battery is stable.

“These early results have exceeded our expectations in terms of cell safety. Although there is further testing to be carried out, there appears to be an inherent safety advantage in spike penetration testing for this cell type compared to conventional state-of-the-art cells,” University College London lecturer James Robinson said in the press release. The university is involved in the study as part of the Faraday Institution SafeBatt project.

Porsche, Mercedes, other car manufacturers and technology companies are investing in solid state projects. If the technology can live up to its potential, it could help expand an already growing electric car market. About 1 in 5 cars sold globally in 2023 were electric cars, according to to the International Energy Agency.

Robust tax credits and immediate savings on gas and maintenance costs provides an opportune opportunity for motorists to switch to the state. Importantly, every electric car that replaces a gas-powered car cuts thousands of pounds of air pollution, even in states where fossil fuels provide most of the energy to charge them. according to to government tasks. The vapors are linked by medical experts to increased risks for a range of human health problems.

Interesting technology reports that Ilika plans to end Goliath testing and offer a version for mass production by 2025.

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