BAK Power Unveils Next-Generation XNO® 2170 Cells: Ultra-High Power, Extended Life for AI Data Center BBU

2026-07-16 | Calvin

BAK Power, in collaboration with Echion Technologies, has announced the development of a new 2170 cylindrical cell platform delivering ultra-high power (UHP) and exceptional longevity, purpose-built for battery backup units (BBUs) in AI-driven data centers and other critical power applications.

Core innovation: The new cell leverages BAK's proven tabless high-power architecture and integrates Echion's XNO® anode technology. This combination enables 10C+ symmetric charge/discharge, elevates cycle life by an order of magnitude compared to current UHP cells, while delivering ultra-low internal resistance, high thermal stability, and enhanced safety. BBU prototype samples are expected to be available by the end of 2026.

The product is engineered to address the performance gap of existing UHP 2170 cells in next-generation high-power-density, liquid-cooled BBU side-rack architectures—specifically within ±400V module designs. Key advantages include:

01 More Symmetrical Design

While conventional high-power 2170 cells excel in discharge, they often suffer from limited charge rates, forcing system over-design. Our new 10C+ continuous charge/discharge capability effectively resolves this, minimises over-sizing, and maximises usable rack space efficiency.

02 Order-of-Magnitude Cycle Life · Industry-Leading LCOS

Specifically engineered to withstand the frequent fast-charge / fast-discharge cycles typical in AI BBU operation, this cell delivers significantly longer asset life compared to traditional NMC-based UHP 2170 cells, driving superior levelized cost of storage (LCOS).

03 Intrinsic Safety (Safety by Design)

Outperforms standard graphite-based UHP cells in abuse tests, while leveraging the inherent safety characteristics of the XNO® chemistry. This meets the stringent safety requirements for BBUs deployed in server-adjacent environments.

04 Optimised for Data Center Thermal Environments

Combining low-internal-resistance cell design with XNO® thermal stability, the cell delivers full performance even at elevated ambient temperatures and rack-side conditions common in AI-dense data centers. Existing UHP 2170 chemistries typically suffer derating or premature aging under such conditions.

Addressing the Evolving Power Architecture

Workloads are fundamentally reshaping power distribution within data centers, and existing UHP cell chemistries are struggling to keep pace. By optimising cell materials, upgrading the tabless manufacturing process, and integrating Echion's XNO® anode, BAK Power has developed a targeted, high-power solution. This is the driving force behind the program.