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NXT-HIT Power

High-Temperature Rechargeable Batteries for Extreme Environments

For 40 years, the industry has accepted single-use, toxic, and fragile as the price of operating at extreme temperature.

NXT-HIT is changing that.

Rechargeable Non-Flammable Electrolyte Drop-In Targeting 150°C
See Our Technology → Contact Us →
90°C First Product Temperature 90°C first commercial product for pipeline inspection. 150°C next product line for downhole MWD/LWD tools.
30+ Recharge Cycles to 100% depth of discharge (4.4V to 2.5V) and still retaining >80% of original capacity
⚡ Energy Equivalence Calculator
How many primary cells does one NXT-HIT cell replace over its service life? Adjust inputs to match your application — defaults reflect NXT-HIT Gen 1 specifications.
NXT-HIT Cell
650 Wh/L
30 cycles
LiSOCl₂ Primary Cell
1,000 Wh/L
33%
29×
primary cells replaced by one NXT-HIT cell
NXT-HIT lifetime energy19,500 Wh/L
Primary effective energy670 Wh/L
NXT-HIT formula650 Wh/L × 30 cycles
Primary utilization67% of rated capacity

Energy density comparison only — does not reflect cost, voltage, or form factor differences. At your cost per primary cell, the multiple above gives you the energy-equivalent value of one NXT-HIT cell over its service life.

01 / The Problem

The Downhole Battery Problem
Has Three Dimensions.

The battery technology powering critical industrial tools has three fundamental problems — and no existing solution solves all three.

Cost

An Expensive Chemistry

LiSOCl₂ is non-rechargeable — every run requires purchasing and disposing of a full set of cells. This creates high, ongoing OpEx with no alternative.

  • Every run requires purchasing and disposing of a full set of cells — this creates high, ongoing OpEx with no alternative
  • Customers rarely reuse cells with less than 50% charge remaining — 25–50% of purchased energy is thrown away
  • Logistics cost of shipping new cells in and used cells out — often to remote locations worldwide
  • In some locations, disposal cost exceeds the cost of the cell itself
  • Hidden costs: safety compliance, warehouse space, administrative overhead, and hazmat documentation
Safety

A Dangerous Chemistry

Toxic SO₂, thionyl chloride (SOCl₂), and sulphuryl chloride (SO₂Cl₂) exposure risk during handling — injuries and fatalities have been recorded. A concentrated, fragile supply chain.

  • Toxic gas exposure risk during handling and venting — thionyl chloride (SOCl₂) and sulphuryl chloride (SO₂Cl₂) release SO₂, HCl, and H₂SO₄ on contact with atmospheric moisture; thermal decomposition above 140°C can produce disulfur dichloride (S₂Cl₂). Injuries and fatalities have been recorded.
  • Property destruction, fires, and explosions — factory fires in 2017 and 2026 each caused significant disruption to commercial supply for 6–12 months
  • Vented or exploded batteries cause rig downtime — a cost that dwarfs the battery purchase price
  • Handful of global suppliers — concentrated, fragile supply chain with no backup
Performance

A Lacking Chemistry

Standard Li-ion fails above 60°C — downhole tools operate at 125–175°C+, leaving LiSOCl₂ and LiSO₂Cl₂ as the only rechargeable-free options.

  • Standard Li-ion fails above 60°C — downhole tools operate at 125–175°C+, leaving LiSOCl₂ and LiSO₂Cl₂ as the only options
  • LiSOCl₂ has limited rate capability — high-drain tool operations stress the chemistry and reduce effective life
  • State of charge is impossible to determine — operators cannot know how much energy remains, forcing conservative early replacement
  • Passivation causes voltage delay — full power not available on demand, creating tool startup uncertainty

The industry has accepted this for decades —
because no better alternative existed.

Working on a high-temperature application? Let's talk →

02 / Our Solution

Rechargeable. Non-Flammable Electrolyte.
Designed for Extreme Temperature.

NXT-HIT has developed a rechargeable battery that performs reliably at temperatures where every other rechargeable chemistry fails — with a significantly improved safety profile over the toxic, reactive chemistries used today.

High-Temperature Rechargeable Battery

A battery that works reliably at temperatures up to 150°C — using a proprietary non-flammable electrolyte that minimizes fire and eliminates toxic gas risks associated with conventional high-temperature chemistries.

NXT-HIT uses a lithium metal anode with a proprietary non-flammable electrolyte engineered for thermal stability. Unlike conventional lithium-ion electrolytes (which decompose and ignite above ~60°C), NXT-HIT's electrolyte will not ignite — minimizing the fire risk and eliminating the toxic gas hazards associated with legacy high-temperature chemistries. The result is a cell with a significantly improved safety profile that performs reliably at temperatures up to 150°C. As with all lithium metal cells, standard battery handling and safety protocols apply.

Three technical advantages working together:

  • Non-flammable electrolyte: Proprietary formulation with a very high flash point. The electrolyte will not ignite when exposed to an open flame — minimizing the fire hazard and eliminating the toxic gas release risk that has historically made LiSOCl₂ and Li-ion cells dangerous in confined or hard-to-reach environments.
  • Lithium metal anode: Highest theoretical energy density of any anode material. NXT-HIT's architecture suppresses dendrite formation — the failure mode that made lithium metal impractical in rechargeable cells.
  • No passivation: Unlike LiSOCl₂, NXT-HIT cells deliver full power immediately. No voltage delay after storage.

Multiple Form Factors. No Tool Redesign Required.

NXT-HIT begins production with common cylindrical sizes like D and DD — then expands into other cylindrical sizes. Future formats could include prismatic and pouch configurations that open up new tool design possibilities impossible with legacy chemistry.

Starting with industry-standard cylindrical sizes allows customers to run early pilots without modifying existing tools. The initial focus is on D and DD cell sizes — common dimensions already used in smart PIG battery stacks and downhole tool battery strings today. No tool redesign required for initial deployment.

Future form formats could include prismatic and pouch cells — enabling custom tool designs that have never been possible with LiSOCl₂. This opens new design freedom for tool engineers not constrained by cylindrical dimensions.

Cell size and format roadmap:

  • Initial production: D-cell and DD-cell cylindrical sizes — drop-in compatible with existing tool battery configurations
  • Expanding to: Other cylindrical sizes for broader tool compatibility
  • Future formats: Prismatic and pouch cells for custom battery compartments and new tool designs
  • Product line optimization: 90°C chemistry optimized for pipeline inspection; 150°C chemistry optimized for downhole MWD, LWD, wireline, and RSS

Why form factor flexibility matters:

  • LiSOCl₂ cells are only available in standard cylindrical sizes — tool designers have always worked around this constraint
  • Future prismatic and pouch formats allow battery compartments to be shaped around the tool, not the other way around
  • Custom energy storage configurations become possible for the first time in extreme-temperature tools
Competitive Overview
How NXT-HIT Compares
Capability Standard Li-ion LiSOCl₂ (Primary) NXT-HIT
Max Operating Temp~60°C~150°C150°C
Rechargeable✓✗✓
Cycle Life500–2,000+None (primary)30+ cycles
Volumetric Energy Density~400–700 Wh/L~900–1,000 Wh/L650 Wh/L (Gen 1)
Electrolyte SafetyFlammableToxic / reactiveNon-flammable electrolyte
Drop-in CompatibleLimitedYesYes
Voltage Delay (Passivation)NoYesNo
Form FactorsCylindrical, prismatic, pouchCylindrical onlyCylindrical, prismatic, pouch
Disposal ClassificationStandardHazardous wasteNo toxic gas byproducts
Standard Li metal disposal protocols apply
Where We're Going

Gen 1 is the floor, not the ceiling. We're early — with a clear chemistry path toward primary-cell energy density, and rechargeable!

Gen 1 · First Product

90°C Commercial

650+ Wh/L · 30+ cycles to 100% DoD · 90°C operating · non-flammable electrolyte · drop-in D-cell form factor.

Gen 2 · In Development

150°C Next Product

Downhole MWD/LWD and rotary steerable systems. Same chemistry platform extended to 150°C — the full downhole operating envelope.

Horizon

900–1,000+ Wh/L
Primary-cell energy density and Rechargeable

A credible path toward — and potentially beyond — LiSOCl₂ energy density, without the single-use trade-off.

03 / Technology

What Makes It Work
at 150°C.

Three interlocking innovations — each solving a problem that has kept rechargeable batteries out of extreme-temperature tools for four decades.

Proprietary High-Temperature Electrolyte

The electrolyte is the heart of the technology — a proprietary non-flammable formulation that minimizes fire and eliminates toxic gas risks of conventional electrolytes, while remaining stable at temperatures up to 150°C.

Conventional lithium battery electrolytes use LiPF₆ dissolved in organic carbonate solvents with a thermal ceiling around 85°C. Above that, they decompose, generate pressure, and ignite — the root cause of lithium-ion battery fires. NXT-HIT's proprietary electrolyte is formulated to be non-flammable, with a very high flash point that allows it to be safely exposed to an open flame without igniting. It maintains consistent electrochemical performance at temperatures up to 150°C — where conventional electrolytes fail entirely. The non-flammable electrolyte also eliminates the toxic gas hazards (SO₂, HCl, H₂SO₄) released when LiSOCl₂ or LiSO₂Cl₂ cells vent. As lithium metal cells, standard lithium battery handling protocols apply.

Key electrolyte properties:

  • Proprietary formulation: Trade secret protected. Patent applications in preparation.
  • Non-flammable electrolyte: Very high flash point — the electrolyte will not ignite when exposed to an open flame. Eliminates the fire hazard of Li-ion and the toxic gas release hazard (SO₂, HCl) of LiSOCl₂. Standard lithium metal cell handling protocols apply to the cell itself.
  • Thermal performance: Consistent electrochemical performance demonstrated at temperatures up to 150°C
  • No passivation: Full voltage delivered immediately on demand — no warm-up delay
  • Dual charge capability: Can be charged at room temperature or at operating temperature
  • Future chemistry platform: The electrolyte innovations underpinning NXT-HIT's current chemistry open pathways to exploring additional high-temperature battery chemistries

Lithium Metal Anode Architecture

Lithium metal has the highest theoretical energy density of any anode material. NXT-HIT's architecture makes it practical — suppressing the dendrite formation that has historically limited cycle life.

Lithium metal anodes offer approximately 10× higher theoretical energy density than graphite anodes in conventional lithium-ion. The industry moved away from lithium metal because repeated cycling causes needle-like dendrites that pierce the separator and short the cell. NXT-HIT's electrolyte-anode interface design and formation protocol suppresses this failure mode, enabling reliable multi-cycle operation at high temperature.

Performance characteristics:

  • Consistent performance demonstrated across multiple cycles at temperatures up to 150°C
  • High Coulombic efficiency maintained across cycling — indicates stable, reversible electrochemistry
  • Batch-to-batch consistency improving through ongoing development work
  • Gen 1 volumetric energy density: 650 Wh/L

Why this matters for your operation:

  • More energy per unit volume than legacy rechargeable alternatives at operating temperature
  • Longer run times per charge cycle reduce operational interruptions
  • Predictable capacity — unlike LiSOCl₂, you can know how much energy is in the cell

Chemistry Optimized Per Application

One electrolyte platform — optimized differently for each application. Pipeline inspection and downhole drilling each have distinct power demands. NXT-HIT's chemistry adapts to them.

NXT-HIT's proprietary electrolyte is not a single fixed formulation — it is a platform. The chemistry can be tuned to prioritize different performance characteristics depending on the application: operating temperature range, discharge rate, energy density, and cycle life. This allows NXT-HIT to develop cells specifically optimized for the 90°C environment of pipeline inspection tools and separately for the higher-demand 150°C environment of downhole drilling tools.

Application-optimized product lines:

  • Pipeline Inspection (90°C): Optimized for sustained discharge over long PIG runs. D and DD cell formats for drop-in compatibility with existing battery stacks.
  • Downhole Tools (150°C): Optimized for high-temperature stability and high rate capability for MWD, LWD, wireline, and rotary steerable systems.
  • Custom configurations: Prismatic and pouch cell formats enable purpose-built battery compartments for new tool designs — not constrained by cylindrical dimensions.

Future chemistry pathways:

The electrolyte innovations underpinning NXT-HIT's current chemistry open pathways to exploring additional high-temperature battery chemistries and electrochemical systems. This positions NXT-HIT as a platform technology company, not a single-product developer.

04 / Applications

Decades of Unmet Demand.
No Rechargeable Incumbent.

Two markets. The same chemistry problem in both. The same NXT-HIT solution — optimized for each application.

90°C–150°COperating Range Across
Target Applications
~30Primary Cells Replaced Per
Cell Position, Per Service Life
Drop-InCompatible Form Factors —
No Tool Redesign Required

Pipeline Inspection (Smart PIGs)

Smart PIGs need longer battery life for longer runs. NXT-HIT's 90°C D-cell is a drop-in rechargeable replacement for the primary cells used today — same form factor, dramatically more energy over a service life.

Inline inspection (ILI) tools — smart PIGs — travel inside pipelines under operating pressure and temperature to detect corrosion, cracks, and deformation. Battery life directly limits how far a PIG can run in a single deployment. A rechargeable, high-energy-density D-cell extends operational range and reduces retrieval frequency — directly reducing inspection cost per kilometer of pipeline.

Why NXT-HIT fits pipeline inspection:

  • Temperature match: 90°C chemistry aligns with typical pipeline inspection operating temperatures
  • Form factor match: D-cell and DD-cell formats — no tool modification required for initial pilots
  • Run length: Rechargeable cells extend PIG run range and reduce the frequency of tool retrieval for battery replacement
  • 30 cycles eliminates 29 of 30 battery changeouts per cell position over a service life

Downhole Oil & Gas (MWD/LWD/Wireline)

MWD, LWD, wireline, and rotary steerable tools — all battery-powered, all temperature-limited, all running non-rechargeable primary cells today.

Measurement While Drilling (MWD), Logging While Drilling (LWD), wireline, and rotary steerable tools are the electronic intelligence of modern drilling operations. Every one runs on batteries that must survive 125°C–150°C. The dominant battery today is LiSOCl₂ — non-rechargeable, hazardous, and operationally costly. A rechargeable alternative that survives these temperatures eliminates tool retrieval for battery changes, reducing non-productive time and extending tool run capability.

Tool TypeFunctionTemp Range
MWDReal-time drilling direction & formation data125°C–150°C
LWDFormation logging during drilling125°C–150°C
WirelinePost-drilling formation evaluation125°C–150°C
RSSAutomated directional drilling125°C–150°C

NXT-HIT's 150°C product addresses the full range of downhole tool types with a drop-in battery solution that eliminates the primary cell changeout cycle.

Beyond Oil & Gas

Any electronics that must operate in high heat. Geothermal, defense, subsea, and industrial automation all share the same problem NXT-HIT solves.

The thermal limitation of conventional batteries is not unique to oil & gas. Geothermal energy systems, defense electronics, deep subsea instrumentation, and high-temperature industrial automation all face the same constraint. NXT-HIT's chemistry platform is applicable wherever heat defeats conventional power sources.

Adjacent application verticals:

  • Geothermal energy: Downhole sensors in geothermal wells operate at 150°C–300°C — growing demand as geothermal scales as clean baseload energy
  • Defense & aerospace: High-temperature battery performance is a known gap in defense electronics operating in extreme environments
  • Industrial automation: Chemical, refining, and manufacturing sectors require autonomous sensor and control systems that conventional batteries cannot reliably power at elevated temperatures
  • Deep subsea: Combined pressure-temperature environments in subsea completions and intervention tools challenge conventional power solutions

NXT-HIT's strategy: prove the technology in oil & gas — the most demanding and economically motivated initial market — then expand with validated chemistry and a field track record.

05 / FAQ

Questions We Actually Get.
Answers We Actually Mean.

The honest version of who we are, what we're building, and why it matters.

What is NXT-HIT Power?

NXT-HIT Power is a battery technology company developing high-temperature rechargeable cells for industrial applications where the environment is trying very hard to kill your battery. We focus on downhole oil & gas tools and pipeline inspection systems — places where 150°C and high shock and vibration are just Tuesday.

What's wrong with the batteries used in downhole tools today?

The industry has relied on single-use primary lithium cells for 40 years. They work — until they don't — and then you pull the tool, swap the battery, and run it again. They contain toxic chemistry (LiSOCl₂), can't be recharged, and get more expensive every time companies run the math on total cost per job. It's a problem that is not in the interest of the single-use cell makers to solve.

How is NXT-HIT's battery different?

NXT-HIT's cell is designed to recharge — 30+ times to 100% depth of discharge. It uses a non-flammable electrolyte (unlike conventional lithium-ion electrolytes, which prefer excitement). It's engineered for drop-in compatibility with existing tool designs, so customers don't have to redesign their tools to use it.

What temperature can NXT-HIT's battery operate at?

We are starting with two product lines: 90°C (194°F) and 150°C (302°F) — targeting most MWD/LWD and smart PIG applications. The cell is currently in development; we're not selling anything yet, but we are making good progress.

What applications is NXT-HIT targeting?

Two primary markets: (1) Downhole oil & gas tools — MWD (measurement while drilling), LWD (logging while drilling), and rotary steerable systems that need power deep in a borehole. (2) Pipeline inspection — smart PIGs that travel inside pipelines mapping corrosion, cracks, and the general anxiety of aging infrastructure.

Is NXT-HIT's battery available to buy?

Not yet. We're an R&D-stage company working toward a validated D-cell design. If you're an OEM or tool designer with a high-temperature application, we'd love to hear from you — early conversations with customers help us build the right thing.

How does a rechargeable battery save money vs. a primary cell?

A single primary lithium cell is used once and discarded. A rechargeable cell that survives 30 cycles delivers roughly 29× the total energy over its lifetime. For a tool that runs multiple jobs per month, that math adds up fast — and doesn't include the cost of logistics, disposal, or the technician time spent swapping cells in the field.

Where is NXT-HIT based?

Austin, Texas. R&D is conducted at the University of Texas at Austin, which has the dry room, laser welding equipment, and general tolerance for ambitious lithium chemistry experiments that this kind of work requires.

What's the connection to John Goodenough and UT Austin?

John B. Goodenough won the 2019 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his foundational work on lithium-ion batteries — and spent the last decades of his career at the University of Texas at Austin, where NXT-HIT conducts its R&D. We're not claiming he would have approved of everything we're doing, but we like to think he'd appreciate that someone in the same building is still trying to make lithium batteries better. He passed away in 2023 at age 100, having filed his last patent at 97. The bar has been set.

06 / Company

Industry Insiders Who Decided
to Build the Solution.

NXT-HIT was formed by industry insiders who spent years watching the industry accept a problem it didn't have to — and set out to find a better answer. The team brings decades of combined experience spanning battery cell development, downhole tool engineering, and battery pack manufacturing.

NXT-HIT: Progress, Performance, and a Future Powered by Innovation.

NXT (next) — our drive to pioneer the next generation of energy solutions.
HIT (high temperature) — our core technology capability in extreme environments.

Daniel Murphy

President

20+ years in oil & gas spanning field engineering, battery qualification, manufacturing management, and executive leadership across downhole tools, battery packs, and high-pressure downhole components.

Daniel's career spans the full lifecycle of downhole energy — from field engineering and battery qualification to running a battery pack manufacturing company. As Lithium Battery Operations lead at Weatherford Drilling Services, he oversaw battery qualification, vendor evaluation, failure analysis, and pack design for MWD/LWD tools. He later served as President of Charger Industries, an ISO 9001-certified battery pack manufacturer with 50+ employees and revenues in the tens of millions.

Career highlights:

  • Weatherford Drilling Services (11 years): LWD Field Engineer → Technical Training Instructor → Systems Application Engineer. Led all Lithium Battery operations — qualification, vendor evaluation, failure analysis, and pack design for MWD/LWD tools.
  • Charger Industries (5+ years): Engineering Manager → GM → President. ISO 9001-certified battery pack manufacturing, 50+ employees, two locations (Houston TX + Calgary AB).
  • Rampart Products: Manufacturing Manager — high-temperature, high-pressure downhole connectors for the oil & gas industry.
  • JAE Electronics: Director of Engineering & Business Development — manufacturing of downhole sensors.
  • Erdos Miller: Quality Manager — downhole tool manufacturing.

Dr. Reinaldo Santos-Ortiz

Senior Cell Engineer

PhD materials scientist with 15 years of battery development experience. Hands responsible for every NXT-HIT cell built to date.

Reinaldo holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science Engineering from the University of North Texas. As Senior Lead Cell Engineer at Rolled-Ribbon Battery Company, he personally executed every step of cell manufacturing — electrode slitting, winding, glovebox assembly, formation cycling, and validation. He brings hands-on cell development experience that is rare at any stage.

Education:

  • Ph.D., Materials Science Engineering — University of North Texas
  • M.S., Physics — Fisk University
  • B.S., Physics — Universidad Metropolitana, Puerto Rico

Experience:

  • Rolled-Ribbon Battery Company: Senior Lead Cell Engineer — end-to-end cell R&D from chemistry selection through production.
  • Samsung Austin Semiconductor: Lead Equipment Engineer — advanced materials characterization for 3D FinFET semiconductor technology.
  • University of North Texas: Graduate Research Assistant — thin film battery materials, semiconductor deposition.

Publications: Peer-reviewed papers in Solid State Ionics and ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces.

Open to Collaboration

Partnering to Bring This Technology to Market

NXT-HIT is actively engaging with strategic partners and investors who recognize the opportunity in high-temperature industrial energy storage. Whether you're an OEM exploring integration, a service company interested in a pilot program, or an investor evaluating deep-tech energy opportunities — we'd like to speak with you.

Start a Conversation →

07 / Contact

Let's Talk.

Whether you're evaluating a pilot program, exploring a partnership, or looking to learn more about our technology — the conversation starts here.

Your information is used only to respond to your inquiry. We do not sell or share contact data.

Or reach us directly:

📧info@nxt-hit.com
🔗linkedin.com/company/nxt-hit-power