Army Grants Piersica over $1.9 Million for Innovations in High-Energy Battery Technology
Piersica, Inc., a leading innovator in battery technology, has been awarded an approximately $1.9 million Army SBIR Phase II contract. This grant will enable Piersica to further develop, demonstrate, and deliver its ultra-high energy density battery technology.
The high energy density of Piersica's batteries allows for lighter and more compact power sources, enhancing soldier portability and endurance. Soldiers can carry less battery weight while supporting longer missions with sustained power for communication devices, sensors, and wearable electronics.
Moreover, these batteries offer extended operational duration for unmanned systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), ground robots, and other autonomous platforms. This increase in mission success rates and reduction in logistical burdens are crucial for military operations.
The technology also supports emerging military electronics, including advanced sensors, directed-energy weapons, and portable radar systems. With reliable, high-capacity energy storage, military personnel can utilize more sophisticated and power-hungry equipment in the field.
Faster charging and enhanced safety are other significant advantages of Piersica's batteries. Depending on the chemistry and design, these batteries may offer quicker recharge cycles, allowing rapid turnaround in field conditions. Enhanced safety features are crucial in combat environments to prevent battery failure or hazards like thermal runaway.
Reduced logistics and maintenance burden is another benefit. Longer-lasting batteries mean fewer replacements, streamlined supply chains, and lower maintenance costs. This simplifies military logistics by decreasing downtime.
The technology can be integrated into electric or hybrid military vehicles, wearable tech, portable power packs, and even energy storage for base camps. This alignment with modernization efforts focusing on energy efficiency and battlefield mobility makes Piersica's technology a strategic asset in future defense technologies.
Claudiu Bucur, CEO of Piersica, Inc, expressed excitement about earning the third Army SBIR Program contract in the last three years. The funding for this grant project will provide Piersica with access to technical, acquisition, and operational subject matter experts within the U.S. Army. These specialists will offer direction on the technological needs of the Army and mentorship from the Army's research and development ecosystem.
Over the last three years, the company has earned a total of $3.8 million in SBIR grants from the U.S. Army, the National Science Foundation, and the US Air Force/AFWERX. The collaboration with the Army SBIR Program will help mature Piersica's technology for eventual use in Army acquisition programs.
With what will be the highest energy density cell on the market, Piersica is well-positioned to enable emerging markets such as robotics and electric flight. These technologies offer extended battery capacity for a wide range of rechargeable products, including consumer electronics, electric vehicles (EVs), drones, autonomous vehicles, and wearable systems.
The Phase II contract title is "Energy Demand Reduction and Clean Energy Tech." The Army SBIR Program awards Phase II contracts to small businesses that address the Army's needs with innovative, mature technologies. The goal is to demonstrate the technical feasibility of an ultra-high energy density battery cell.
The funding will aid in the maturation of Piersica's technology, which is critical for the commercialization of future defense applications. The cell prototype should have high energy density, capacity, and cycle life exceeding current state-of-the-art solutions.
The contract duration is 15 months. Over the next 15 months, Piersica will validate a cell prototype with high energy density, capacity, and cycle life exceeding current state-of-the-art solutions. With the successful completion of this project, Piersica's ultra-high energy density batteries could revolutionize the military landscape, offering enhanced operational effectiveness, soldier mobility, and logistical efficiency.
The ultra-high energy density batteries developed by Piersica could also revolutionize industries beyond defense, such as finance by reducing energy costs, business operations through increased efficiency, and technology sectors like electric cars and drones by providing extended battery capacity.
Piersica's collaboration with the Army SBIR Program not only provides the company with funding but also access to valuable expertise that could help in expanding their technology to various business sectors.
