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NanoGraf awarded up to $15 Million Army Contract to provide better batteries

January 23, 2024

NanoGraf has been awarded a contract worth up to $15 million to support the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command C5ISR Center. This contract is part of a Defense Innovation Unit (DIU) initiative aimed at developing a Family of Advanced Standard Batteries (FAStBat) using commercial technologies.

Currently, U.S. soldiers carry over twenty pounds of lithium-ion batteries in the field, which are bulky and not universally compatible with all devices. The funding will be used by NanoGraf to develop materials and cells for interoperable batteries that can be used across a range of military devices and significantly extend operational runtime. This will result in a lighter load for soldiers and provide accessible energy storage that can be domestically produced.

The FAStBat project comes on the heels of the opening of NanoGraf’s new headquarters and manufacturing plant in Chicago. This new facility aligns with the Biden-Harris Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and domestic manufacturing agenda by bringing battery materials production back to the U.S., thereby creating a more robust and stable supply chain.

In recent news, NanoGraf secured an $8 million contract from the U.S. Army in December and completed UL1642 and IEC62133 certifications for their most energy-dense 18650 lithium-ion cell.

“High-performing, cross-compatible battery technology supports the safety and success of military operations,” said Dr. Francis Wang, CEO of NanoGraf. “Through our ongoing partnership with the DoD, we’re committed to building better battery technology and a more resilient battery supply chain.”