Xiaomi has named CALB and Sunwoda Power as strategic partners for its Armor Scale Battery, while adding lifetime protection for owners if a battery defect or collision-related damage leads to a fire.
The Chinese technology group detailed the arrangement at an Armor Scale Battery event on Sept 4. The battery itself is not new: Xiaomi introduced it in July as part of its Kunlun Total Safety system and has already confirmed it for the SkyNomad N90 Max and N70 Max extended-range SUVs.
Xiaomi said it remains responsible for defining the battery system, leading battery-pack design and development, participating in cell development and overseeing quality control throughout production.
CALB will develop a customised electrochemical system and materials to Xiaomi’s requirements and operate a dedicated production line. Sunwoda Power, meanwhile, is providing cell-manufacturing capability through another dedicated line.
Xiaomi is also placing strong emphasis on production oversight. Founder Lei Jun said the programme includes 7,985 cell-level control points, 383 battery-pack control points and 1,230 validation tests.
Among the tests cited by Xiaomi is a 500J underbody impact, after which the battery is required to remain functional. It also claims a fully charged cell at 55°C can undergo thermal runaway without propagation to neighbouring cells.
The company demonstrated the battery in an N70 Max through four consecutive tests involving a 500J underbody strike, water immersion, high-speed driving and fast charging, followed by a high-temperature, fully charged nail-penetration test.
The more unusual part of Xiaomi’s announcement is its new lifetime battery fire-protection programme.
It will be provided free to the first non-commercial owner of a vehicle fitted with the Armor Scale Battery, with no annual mileage limit.
If an original-factory battery quality problem causes spontaneous combustion and the vehicle meets the criteria for scrappage, Xiaomi said the owner would be compensated with a new vehicle of the same specification.
The protection is different for a fire caused by battery impact or an underbody scrape. If the vehicle is written off, Xiaomi would cover the difference between the insured amount under the vehicle-damage policy and the insurer’s actual payout.
The distinction means Xiaomi is not promising a free replacement vehicle after every battery fire.
The SkyNomad N90 Max and N70 Max are due for their formal launch on Sept 7.
