New batteries for electric cars and wearables, backed by multi-million US$ funding, are both fire resistant and flexible

Batteries are regarded as crucial technologies in the battle against climate change, particularly for electric vehicles and storing energy from renewable sources. Anthro Energy's novel flexible batteries are presently available to wearable manufacturers and could be employed in a variety of areas, including electric cars and laptops.

The innovative batteries score well in fire safety, thanks to new materials and design features that eliminate internal and external mechanical safety risks like explosions. Many of today's batteries, such as lithium-ion batteries, contain a flammable liquid as an electrolyte.

Anthro Energy's David Mackaniac and his team have created a flexible polymer electrolyte that is malleable like rubber. The new technology provides increased design flexibility for use across a range of devices, with adaptable shapes and sizes to suit specific applications.

The batteries are highly durable, capable of enduring tens of thousands of bending cycles without any decrease in performance. Development funding has already totalled several million US dollars. The team reached the semi-finals of the MIT Clean Energy Prize and was granted a TomKat Innovation Transfer Award.