Navitas Systems and DuPont to Work Together on Lithium Battery Safety

Joint Development Agreement to Push Greater Advancements in Reducing Battery Fires


WOODRIDGE, Ill., Dec. 3, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Navitas Systems LLC (www.navitassys.com), a leading provider of energy-enabled system solutions, energy storage products, and power electronics for commercial, industrial and government agency customers, announced that it has entered into a joint development agreement with DuPont (NYSE:DD) to evaluate specialized fire mitigation materials which could be incorporated within lithium battery cells and packs.

"Lithium battery fires continue to make headlines, and we need a renewed effort within the industry to lower the potential for lithium batteries to catch fire in adverse conditions. We're therefore delighted to be working with a company like DuPont, who has such a strong reputation in fire safety innovations" said Navitas Systems Chairman Alan ElShafei.

"DuPont is known the world over for having developed fire mitigation materials which have proved highly effective in applications ranging from data centers to cargo holds of modern aircraft. Our team of world-class battery scientists and engineers are eager to apply specialized DuPont materials into battery test systems, and ultimately develop cell construction techniques and methods for incorporating these materials into commercial battery cells and packs," ElShafei concluded.

"Enhanced fire safety is a clear need for current and higher-energy Lithium Battery development and utilization," said Frenk Hulsebosch, Global Business Manager for DuPont Fluoropolymers Solutions. "Navitas Systems has the sophisticated R &D and engineering to evaluate materials in various types and sizes of lithium batteries, and has access to some of the most demanding applications in the military and commercial marketplaces. We're therefore happy to be working with Navitas on such an important mission," Hulsebosch concluded.

The scope of cooperation under the agreement will include the verification and validation testing of Li ion battery packs to mitigate combustion. Navitas Systems strongly supports such industry collaboration, and is an affiliate member of the US Department of Energy's Joint-Center for Energy Storage Research (J-CESR), led by Argonne National Laboratory.

About Navitas Systems, LLC

Navitas Systems is a leader in integrated design, technology development and manufacturing, providing energy-enabled system solutions, energy storage products, and power electronics for commercial, industrial and government agency customers. Navitas products range from customized energy storage solutions for motive, idle-reduction and defense related applications, along with custom renewable energy integrated power systems to standard products like lithium based lead-acid replacement batteries. Navitas is driven by a passion for bridging the gap between customer challenges and environmentally and financially sustainable solutions.

Navitas Systems is a woman-owned small business founded in 2010 and previously known as MicroSun Innovative Energy Storage Solutions. Navitas is headquartered in a state-of-the-art 100,000 square foot facility in Woodridge, Illinois. Earlier this year, the company acquired the Government Solutions Group of lithium battery manufacturer A123 Systems. With this acquired major research facility located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, along with strong local and offshore partners and solid financial stability, Navitas is well positioned to continue serving the energy products and power electronics needs of major worldwide customers.

From advanced R &D, safe/high energy cell design, in-house electronics manufacturing and cable assemblies, to sophisticated battery pack assembly, Navitas Systems is your one-stop shop for comprehensive energy and power electronics solutions. For more information visit www.navitassys.com and follow @Navitas_Systems on Twitter.

A photo accompanying this release is available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=22511



            
Navitas Multi Kilowatt Battery Pack Assembly

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