Echion and Proper Voltage Integrated New Battery Tech
The firms have combined niobium-based anodes with UPS systems to handle the high-speed power swings of modern AI clusters.
Updated on Oct. 12, 2026 in Data Centers
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Echion Technologies and Proper Voltage have signed an MoU to integrate XNO battery technology into 480V and 800V uninterruptible power supply (UPS) platforms. The companies are currently showcasing the resulting 1.6MW VaultX system at the 2026 OCP Global Summit.
Why it matters
AI training clusters generate rapid, megawatt-scale power demand shifts that exceed the safe operating limits of conventional battery chemistries. This partnership targets the integration of backup power and load buffering to improve efficiency in data center operations.
The VaultX system utilizes XNO battery anode material that supports symmetric, high-rate charge and discharge cycles, enabling 10,000 equivalent full cycles annually. This allows the 1.6MW, 84kWh units to manage instantaneous load swings better than legacy lead-acid or standard lithium-ion alternatives.
The players
Echion Technologies
A Cambridge-based developer specializing in niobium-based battery anode materials designed for high-power, fast-charging applications.
Proper Voltage
A California-based designer of uninterruptible power supply platforms optimized for high-voltage data center infrastructure.
The details
The VaultX platform embeds XNO cells—a type of niobium-based battery anode material capable of enduring frequent, high-current stresses—into existing Proper Voltage architecture. This approach enables operators to utilize current grid capacity for higher computing output by using the system for both traditional backup missions and active load buffering. Unlike standard chemistries, the niobium anode structure maintains stability during the continuous high-C-rate charging cycles required by instantaneous power demand shifts.
Timeline
October 2026: Companies present the VaultX product at the OCP Global Summit.
The Tech Race
This collaboration follows the Open Compute Project's standards for data center power infrastructure as operators struggle to balance backup reliability with intense AI compute loads. The integration attempts to address a critical bottleneck in the race to scale AI clusters without triggering grid-level failures.
Data center operators will soon be able to incorporate dual-purpose systems that handle both backup power and active load buffering. These units allow for increased computing output without the need for immediate grid-level upgrades, provided the site utilizes 480V or 800V architectures.
The takeaway
The move toward niobium anodes represents an attempt to solve the specific problem of high-C-rate discharge in AI-driven power environments. Operators should monitor the OCP Global Summit for any performance verification data regarding the VaultX unit's cycle life and deployment metrics.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest innovations in Data Centers and their impact on global power infrastructure.
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