Australian firm Li-S Energy will collaborate with UK-based undersea systems specialist MSubs to evaluate the performance of Li-S Energy’s advanced lithium-sulfur battery cells in MSubs’ manned and unmanned undersea platforms.
MSubs has developed platforms for both the UK Ministry of Defence, including the Project CETUS extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV) for the Royal Navy, and for the US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) and US Navy.
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MSubs will transport its specialised pressure-test chamber to Li-S Energy’s Geelong, Victoria facility, allowing the company to test its lithium-sulfur battery cells under simulated deep-ocean conditions equivalent to hundreds or even thousands of metres of water pressure.
These trials will provide critical data on the performance and integrity of Li-S Energy’s next-generation cells under extreme conditions.
Following pressure testing, Li-S Energy will work with MSubs to conduct mission-profile evaluations that simulate multi-day operational deployments typical of unmanned undersea missions.
If these tests are successful, the two companies will explore pathways for integrating Li-S Energy’s batteries as a primary propulsion power source for specific MSubs platforms, and for inclusion in future vehicle designs.
Li-S Energy’s lithium-sulfur technology offers several unique advantages for undersea applications. In addition to being significantly lighter and inherently safer than conventional lithium-ion batteries, Li-S cells exhibit near-neutral buoyancy, a property that can substantially improve the balance, form, and efficiency of submersible vehicles.
This buoyancy advantage, combined with high energy density, has the potential to transform unmanned underwater platform design by reducing overall vehicle mass, extending endurance and increasing payload capacity.
Li-S Energy CEO and managing director Dr Lee Finniear said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with MSubs—a recognised global leader in UUV design.
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“Testing our lithium-sulfur batteries under deep-ocean simulated conditions will provide valuable insight into how our technology performs in one of the most demanding environments imaginable.
“The near-neutral buoyancy and lightweight nature of our cells make them particularly well-suited for undersea applications, and we look forward to working with MSubs to drive adoption in this new operating domain.”
