AllCell Technologies and Townsend Ventures have formed a venture, Townsend-AllCell Technologies to commercialize AllCell's passive thermal management technology for advanced battery systems and packs.

Townsend-AllCell will have the exclusive world-wide rights to commercialize AllCell's patented technology for automotive battery applications plus additional rights for other markets including grid energy storage applications.

AllCell's technology makes use of phase change materials (PCM) to extend battery life and prevent overheating and battery fires. AllCell's PCM technology is a valuable addition to Townsend's existing portfolio of energy investments, which includes Dow Kokam, LLC, Energy Power Systems, LLC and Xtreme Power.

A number of recent high-profile incidents involving lithium-ion battery systems have emphasized to the industry how integral thermal management is to the future of electric vehicles (EVs). Lithium-ion batteries generate heat as a by-product of discharge.

If that heat is not safely removed, the battery cells degrade, reducing battery life, and can ultimately catch on fire or explode.

Ford executive V. Anand Sankaran recently summarized the issue, "Thermal management of lithium-ion battery systems is critical to the success of all-electric vehicles because extreme temperatures can affect performance, reliability, safety and durability." While EVs hold great promise to revolutionize transportation systems, there is broad agreement that in order to reach that potential, lithium-ion batteries must become safer, more energy dense, and significantly less expensive.

AllCell's PCM technology, already commercialized in military, medical and light electric vehicle (LEV) applications, is currently under evaluation by several global automakers.

The PCM technology can rapidly absorb large amounts of heat, allowing auto battery designers to eliminate the bulky, expensive and inefficient liquid cooling systems common in current EVs.

AllCell's PCM involves no moving parts, requires no power to operate and continues to protect batteries from overheating even when the vehicle is parked. This passive protection can be essential to vehicle safety after accidents or when other systems on the vehicle fail-a critical shortcoming of today's active thermal management systems.

Passive thermal management is similarly critical for stationary energy storage, particularly systems that are exposed to high ambient temperatures and solar loading.

Beyond managing the internal heat generated during battery discharge, phase change materials are also perfectly suited to absorb environmental heat during the day and release it back to the atmosphere when temperatures drop at night.

Round-the-clock thermal management without the need for air conditioning systems or other energy-using processes will lower the cost and extend the life of grid storage systems. Townsend-AllCell will accelerate AllCell's efforts in commercializing this technology in the rapidly growing market for large grid-connected energy storage systems.

"This venture is a critical part of AllCell's long-term strategy," according to CEO Said Al-Hallaj.

"The partnership with Townsend allows us to work with a world-class organization with an enviable track record of success. AllCell will continue to focus on our fast growing markets of light electric vehicle and renewable energy storage applications, which will benefit immensely from our access to automotive-grade improvements in our thermal management technology made by Townsend-AllCell."

"We are very excited about incorporating the AllCell technology into our portfolio of battery related investments," said Dennis Townsend, Chairman of Townsend Ventures, LLC.

"Thermal management is a foundational issue for the adoption of all classes of electrified vehicles, whether EV, PHEV, HEV or even micro-hybrids. AllCell's patented technology will help resolve a number of industry challenges not the least of which are battery pack safety and cell life. "