Hands-on: BMX SolidSafe Solid-State Battery Pack [Video]

Recently there have been over 1.7 million mobile power banks recalled. The reason? Most power banks still use lithium-ion cells filled with flammable liquid electrolytes that present a real risk. Drop it, leave it in heat, or overcharge it, puncture it – and it can swell, and even ignite causing fire.

How do powebank makers address this problem? BMX is launching its SolidSafe mobile power bank on Kickstarter with a solid core that significantly reduces the amount of flammable liquid inside the battery. This reduces the risk of fire and catastrophic failure. It’s so effective that it can even withstand damage from a hammer and a nail. Watch the full video for an in-depth demonstration.

Video: BMX SolidSafe Solid-State Battery Pack

We took BMX’s SolidSafe Slim 5K Magnetic Solid-State Battery, and hammered through it with several nails, and even sliced into the battery pack with a pair of scissors. (Don’t try this at home, kids!) Not only would this make a traditional battery bank stop working, but chances are it would go up in flames.

As a precaution, I performed the nail test outside, wore gloves, and eye protection. I even had a fire extinguisher by my side just in case something went awry. Thankfully, the test went just as promised.

First, I exposed the battery pack, and then I took a hammer and nail to it, fully puncturing the pack. Then I did it again, and again. I even used a much larger screw to puncture the pack, and it still didn’t go up in smoke and flames. What really impressed me was the scissor test, where I sliced into a corner of the pack with a pair of scissors, and it still was no worse for the wear.

Throughout all of this testing and abuse, the SolidSafe battery pack continued to charge my iPhone via USB-C at full 20W speed per my watt-measuring cable. The wireless charger also remained fully functional.

Just in case, I left the damaged battery pack outside overnight, and when I woke up, it was still in tact, and still able to charge via USB-C and via wireless. Impressive stuff.

BMX is doing something that that no other major player in the mobile space is currently doing. Not only will the battery keep working through such a test, but it’ll also help prevent a dangerous fire.

BMX stands for Better Mobile Experience, and they offer three types of mobile power banks:

1. Slim 5K Magnetic Solid State Battery
2. 10K Magnetic Solid State Battery with 30/W output
3. 10K Magnetic Solid state battery with micro SD slot to back up your phone.

In today’s test, we’re using the Slim 5K pack. It features an LCD screen, premium aluminum finish for better heat dissipation, a 60W USB-C lanyard cable, and 15W MagSafe-compatible magnetic charging.

You can learn more about BMX’s offerings, and claim yours today on its Kickstarter page. Special thanks to BMW for sponsoring 9to5Mac.