Nowadays we all carry batteries everyday. Think about it: mobile phones, wireless earbuds, laptops, and sometimes a power bank. We are so used to these devices that we don’t normally think much about how they work, but their batteries might fail… Haven’t you heard about batteries overheating on a plane, catching fire at home, or appearing in the news because it has been recalled? Well, this concern has increased throughout the years, but BMX has come up with the solution: solid-state batteries. So, let’s learn more about them.
Danger about traditional batteries
Lithium-ion batteries we normally use work thanks to a liquid or gel electrolyte that allows energy to move between different parts of the battery. This liquid is very good at carrying energy, but it comes with a serious risk: it is flammable.
When a battery is damaged, overheated, or defective, it can enter a process called thermal runaway. This means that the battery heats up, the liquid electrolyte breaks down, even more heat is released, and the result can be smoke, fire, or an explosion.
This is why we keep hearing stories about fires due to batteries at home, planes, or packed in bags.
Solid-state batteries
These batteries replace a great part of this inflammable liquid by using a solid material, which also allows energy to move inside the battery, but reduces significantly the risk of fire. Laboratory studies show that solid-state batteries handle high temperatures better, are less likely to leak, and are less prone to dangerous chain reactions.
In the case of BMX, the SolidSafe 5K and SolidSafe 10K power banks use a hybrid or semi-solid electrolyte, which combines solid and liquid elements. According to both the company and independent reviewers, extreme tests—such as piercing the battery while it is fully charged—result in only small puffs of smoke, rather than flames or explosions.
Battery safety
Although fires caused by batteries are not very frequent, data show that the issue is growing. Let’s see some numbers about this situation:
- U.S. fire departments respond to around 1,500 home fires each year involving batteries.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has recorded at least 25,000 incidents of lithium-powered devices overheating or catching fire over a five-year period.
- Aviation authorities confirmed 89 lithium battery incidents on aircraft in 2024.
- A spare power bank is being investigated as a possible cause of a 2025 aircraft cabin fire in South Korea.
- Since March 2025, more than 1.7 million power banks have been recalled worldwide due to safety issues.
Environment
From the environmental point of view, the situation is a bit more complicated because solid-state batteries have higher energy density, longer lifespans, and fewer replacements over time.
BMX claims that its SolidSafe battery can last up to twice as long as conventional lithium-ion power banks. If true, this could reduce electronic waste and lower the demand for raw materials. However, academic research points out that manufacturing solid-state batteries requires a lot of energy and still relies on materials like lithium, nickel, and cobalt.
Some life-cycle studies even suggest that certain solid-state batteries can have a higher environmental impact during production, although their longer lifespan helps balance that over time. Recycling plays a critical role here, as recovering metals from old batteries can cut environmental impact by more than half compared to mining new materials.
The BMX SolidSafe 5K
At first glance, this looks like a familiar product because it’s a 5,000 mAh magnetic power bank designed for Qi2 wireless charging for iPhones, and capable of up to 15W wireless output and 20W USB-C charging with a bright color display and a lanyard that also works as a cable.
If you are interested in getting one of these, its price is about $80 for the 5K and $100 for the 10K, which is higher than many traditional power banks. This means it currently appeals most to users who prioritize safety.
What’s more, the same battery chemistry could improve the safety of electric vehicles, home energy storage systems, and power grids that rely on renewable energy.
So…
Batteries may be small and easy to forget, but they hold a lot of energy, and when something goes wrong, the consequences can be serious. So, the technology we depend on should be safer.