Graphene Manufacturing Group Ltd ( TSX-V:GMG , OTCQX:GMGMF ) has begun sending its fast-charging G CELLS battery pouch cells to potential customers for early-stage testing and evaluation.
The first batch of what is expected to be more than 100 cells before the end of 2026 has gone to customers in target sectors including defence and heavy mobile equipment, the company said.
The roughly 1.5 Ah pouch cells are designed for six-minute charging. They were made with materials developed and supplied by GMG from its Brisbane Battery Development Centre and assembled by the Battery Innovation Center of Indiana.
Customers will assess fast-charge capability, cycle life and energy efficiency in their own test environments and give feedback to guide development, optimization and scale-up. The cells are pre-commercial samples and are not for use in commercial products.
The technology is being developed under a joint development agreement with Rio Tinto. Its battery technology readiness level remains at BTRL 4, meaning it has been validated in a laboratory environment.
In its latest results, BIC Indiana data showed the cells cycled with no performance reduction after 1,000 cycles while charging and discharging in six minutes at 7C. They also reached an energy density of 58 Wh/kg at 10C, up 48% from the previously reported 39 Wh/kg.
Energy efficiency was 94% at high rates, versus 64% for a tested lithium titanate oxide cell.
The company noted results were generated in a laboratory and may differ in customer testing.
"Putting G CELLS into the hands of potential customers is an important milestone on our battery roadmap," CEO Craig Nicol said. "Customers will test our cells against their own requirements, and what we learn will directly shape our next development sprints on energy density, 10C cycle life and larger cell formats."
GMG will collect test data and feedback over the coming months while continuing to optimise energy density and fast-charge cycle life and progress the scale-up of cell sizes.
