Full Circle Lithium Corp.'s (FCLI-X) lithium-ion battery fire-extinguishing chemical has passed tests carried out by a global electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer and a fire department in Georgia.

FCL-X is an agent engineered specifically for battery fires related to household electronics, electric scooters, e-bikes and EVs. In the tests, flames were extinguished with less agent and toxic smoke than would be required for other chemical suppressants or water, Full Circle said in a release.

FCL-X was previously known as Fire Suppressant Solution, but has since been rebranded.

As EVs become as common as electronic devices, the number of battery fires has also increased. Canadian fire chiefs sounded the alarm about the risk in 2023, pointing to the speed, difficulty of extinguishing the flames and the need for specialized equipment. Oberon Development Corp., a Toronto real estate company, banned EVs on its properties because of the risks.

“We believe that given the enormity of the risk posed by lithium-ion battery fires globally, the battery fire-fighting agent market is substantial and in its infancy,” Carlos Vicens, the CEO of Toronto-headquartered Full Circle, said in a statement.

The company is taking early steps to commercialize FCL-X, according to John Rathwell, the company’s investor relations advisor, who spoke to Sustainable Biz Canada.

Testing out FCL-X

Full Circle was invited by an EV manufacturer in Georgia, and the Georgia Ports Authority to test FCL-X on a range of battery sizes while being monitored by local fire departments.

The agent has been found to require minimal clean-up and there was confidence re-ignition was halted, Full Circle says.

A picture on X, formerly Twitter, shows FCL-X contained in an ordinary fire extinguisher.

In a previous interview with Sustainable Biz Canada, Vicens said the solution is made out of recycled batteries and is water-based as opposed to foam or gel, providing an advantage as it can “penetrate everywhere.”

The release did not provide details about the tests, and Rathwell also declined to provide any data or explanation of how the examinations were conducted, citing competitive concerns. But the test results with the EV maker and the Georgia Ports Authority were similar to previous trials, he explained.

A test announced in March was conducted on a bundle of 2,800-milliampere-hour battery cells, a 960-watt-hour electric bike battery and a 57-kilowatt EV battery.

In data provided to Sustainable Biz Canada by Rathwell, the EV battery test involved a fire burning at approximately 800 C. It was extinguished within 15 minutes using approximately 120 gallons of FCL-X with no re-ignition.

Rathwell said the company hopes FCL-X will be rated by UL, a safety science company, within the next six months.

Commercializing FCL-X

Full Circle says rising demand for fire suppression that addresses battery fires gives it “significant opportunity” for FCL-X in the U.S.

Vicens said Georgia is “an ideal geographic location” because of the billions in investment for EV manufacturing being poured into the state.

“This is an ideal scenario for the commencement of the commercial roll-out of the FCL-X.”

Though focused primarily on lithium processing and recycling, Full Circle will launch a joint venture for FCL-X, he told Sustainable Biz Canada.

The EV manufacturer, Georgia Ports Authority and local fire authorities overseeing the tests were “very interested” in purchasing FCL-X, Rathwell said. A U.S. fire station would need 10 40-pound extinguishers to be able to suppress battery fires, he added.

Retail opportunities would come from selling consumer-grade extinguishers that can fit in a passenger car to companies such as Canadian Tire, Lowe’s or Walmart.

Full Circle’s facility in Georgia can produce a substantial amount of material needed to make FCL-X in cost-effective quantities, Rathwell said.

The company is in talks with large U.S. fire extinguisher manufacturers seeking solutions for battery fires, he also disclosed.