Italian startup to open new factory for lithium battery production
Italian startup Sealence, a developer of nautical propulsion systems for electric boats, is to open a new factory to ramp up production of its SafeLi lithium battery.
The project, named internally as the SafeLi Giga Factory, involves the establishment of a facility for large-scale production of the SafeLi battery to fulfil several multi-year orders the company is discussing with clients.
The first product to be manufactured at the facility will be the 83kWh SafeLi lithium battery, which is already in production at the pilot plant in Parma.
Sealence says that it has completed the feasibility study and defined all the specifications for both the factory and assembly lines. Site surveys are currently underway to identify suitable locations to accommodate the factory, which is expected to employ approximately fifty workers by 2025.
Sealence confirms that it recently signed an official document with Sardinia to ‘facilitate mutual assessments’ to build the SafeLi Giga Factory on the Italian island.
“I am truly delighted with this agreement and the forward-thinking approach of this administration, which aims to play a leading role in the Blue Economy,” says Sealence CEO, William Gobbo. “On a broader note, the potential establishment in Sardinia would allow Sealence to continue generating employment, development, and well-being in the country where it originated.”
The SafeLi battery is said to offer a high discharge power of 240kW and can be charged to 80 per cent at fast-charger points in just 12 minutes. It weighs 550kg and is described by the firm as both ‘fireproof’ and ‘heavy-duty’, meaning it is suitable for all applications where high performance must be guaranteed over long periods and under continuous stress conditions.
The SafeLi battery powers the patented Sealence DeepSpeed electric propulsion system, which the firm says sets new efficiency standards for electric jets.
From 2025, Sealence expects to introduce other new batteries into its range.
