What ZAF Energy Systems does

ZAF Energy Systems Inc. is a private US battery technology company founded in 2011, headquartered in Joplin, Missouri with a research and development facility in Bozeman, Montana. The company develops Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) and Zinc-Air rechargeable battery chemistries built on a proprietary electrolyte formulation, engineered zinc negative electrode, carbon-free positive electrode, recombinant gas device, and bi-functional oxygen catalyst, overcoming historical failure modes of zinc batteries (shape change, dry out, and manufacturability). Its product portfolio includes NiZn prismatic cells in Group 31 format, a patented Monobloc 8D architecture for 24-48V high-voltage applications (US Patent #10,777,781), and a Zinc-Air pouch cell for IoT asset tracking.

ZAF serves industrial, commercial, and government customers across aerospace and defense, data center backup power, commercial trucking, marine, medical equipment, and telecom/5G infrastructure. Customers and validation partners include the US Navy (submarine and marine battery programs, $2.49M DoD ManTech contract), US Air Force, a top-10 US commercial trucking manufacturer in field testing, a global data center operator reached through CPG, planned Cessna Citation and Boeing 737 entries, and multiple 5G telecom providers. The company reports a soft backlog exceeding 1 million batteries awaiting manufacturing capacity.

The business model combines direct enterprise and government sales (~$500 per NiZn Group 31 unit, quote-based pricing for industrial buyers), funded DoD development contracts, channel partnerships (Atlantic Battery Systems, CPG, eNow Energy, Intrapack), and a long-term asset-light technology licensing strategy to global battery manufacturers. Manufacturing is operated from a 35,000-square-foot low-rate initial production facility in Joplin with Wirtz Manufacturing equipment enabling capacity of 2,000 batteries per month. In January 2021, ZAF spun off Æsir Technologies, Inc. under a Section 355 tax-free structure to focus on aerospace, defense, medical, and critical infrastructure specialty markets under a non-exclusive NiZn IP license, while ZAF concentrates on licensing, manufacturing, and broader industrial and consumer applications.

Name

ZAF Energy Systems

Legal name

ZAF Energy Systems Inc.

Website

https://zafsys.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ZAF Energy Systems is a private US battery company that develops Nickel-Zinc and Zinc-Air rechargeable battery technologies for industrial, defense, trucking, data center, marine, medical, and telecom customers, selling hardware, executing DoD contracts, and licensing its proprietary chemistry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Battery Manufacturing

NAICS

Battery Manufacturing (335910), Battery Manufacturing (33591)

SIC

Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Energy Storage Systems (BESS, Flywheels, Batteries) (HDABAKAC), Automotive Batteries & 12V/Low-Voltage Energy Storage Manufacturing (IMACAJAJ)

Keywords

• Nickel zinc batteries
• Rechargeable battery technology
• Industrial energy storage
• Zinc air batteries
• Battery cell manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Joplin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nickel-Zinc (NiZn) Battery Hardware Sales: Sale of rechargeable NiZn batteries (Group 31 format, prismatic, pouch) to industrial customers for motive, stationary, and specialty applications. Revenue from direct battery unit sales, with pricing at approximately $500/battery for Group 31 (replacing 8 lead acid batteries at $300 each). Volume expected to scale from hundreds to thousands of batteries per month with Wirtz Manufacturing equipment deployment.
2. DoD and Government Contracts: Funded development and production contracts with US Department of Defense, Navy, and Air Force. Includes $2,494,032 contract (June 2020) under DoD Manufacturing Technology Program via ACI Technologies/Office of Naval Research for marine battery scaling. Revenue from technical development milestones and prototype production.
3. Technology Licensing: ZAF's long-term strategy is to license NiZn technology to global battery manufacturers, providing turnkey engineering packages for licensed production. Target markets include motive, industrial, energy storage system, and consumer markets. Licensing agreements expected to drive revenue through upfront fees and per-unit royalties.
4. Specialty Battery Markets (via Æsir Technologies): Following the January 2021 spinoff of Æsir Technologies, specialty markets (aerospace, defense, medical, critical infrastructure) are served through the wholly-owned subsidiary using licensed NiZn IP, continuing contract revenue from US Air Force and Navy programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ZAF Energy Systems manufactures and sells rechargeable Nickel Zinc (NiZn) batteries in prismatic, pouch, and 8D Monobloc form factors, plus Zinc-Air pouch cells, targeting industrial and government customers in data center UPS, commercial trucking, aerospace/defense, marine, medical, and telecom/5G applications. The company also licenses its proprietary NiZn battery intellectual property to global battery manufacturers through turnkey engineering packages for high-volume licensed production.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NiZn Prismatic Batteries Rechargeable Nickel Zinc prismatic batteries in Group 31 format, the prominent battery format for data centers, trucking, and marine applications. Delivers 2x energy density, 3x power, and 2x cycle life of lead-acid at less than half the lifecycle cost, with safety advantages over lithium-ion.
• NiZn Pouch Cells Rechargeable Nickel Zinc pouch cells designed for flexible form factor applications in industrial energy storage, electric drive systems, and specialty battery markets. Provides sealed, maintenance-free operation with high specific energy (60-110 Wh/kg and 90-250 Wh/L).
• NiZn Monobloc 8D Battery (24-48V) Patented Monobloc 8D NiZn battery for 24-48V high-voltage applications in data center UPS, telecom, motive industrial, energy storage, and transportation markets. Features accessible individual cell terminals for system-level monitoring and is designed for lowest cost, highest quality, and most energy-dense automated high-volume manufacturing.
• Zinc-Air Pouch Cell for Asset Tracking Patented Zinc-Air pouch cell approximately 1mm thick and credit card sized, designed for high-value package and asset tracking applications including IoT and e-commerce logistics. Capable of over 100 days of continuous power, flexible, safe, and inexpensive, with high pulse and low standby current discharge profile.
• NiZn Technology Licensing Program Technology licensing program offering turnkey engineering packages to global battery manufacturers for licensed production of ZAF's NiZn batteries in their own facilities. Includes process documentation, equipment specifications, quality validation, and customer demand established through ZAF's pipeline. Target licensee markets include motive, industrial, energy storage, and consumer applications worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 40% reduction in data center battery volume vs lead-acid, 55% reduction in weight
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Æsir Technologies, Inc.coreOthers · 1 January 2021ZAF Energy Systems completed a Section 355 tax-free spinoff of Æsir Technologies, Inc. effective January 1, 2021. Æsir was previously a wholly-owned ZAF subsidiary serving aerospace, defense, medical, and critical infrastructure markets. ZAF granted Æsir a non-exclusive license to use the NiZn Intellectual Property. Æsir continues to operate from ZAF's LRIP facility serving specialty market customers and ongoing US Air Force and Navy contracts. The restructuring separates ZAF's asset-light IP/license exit strategy from Æsir's operations focus.
• ACI Technologies / Office of Naval ResearchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2020ACI Technologies Inc., operating the U.S. Navy's Center of Excellence in Electronics Manufacturing, awarded ZAF a $2,494,032 subcontract under a prime contract from the Office of Naval Research funded by the DoD Manufacturing Technology (ManTech) program. The program scales NiZn battery cells from 150Ah to higher capacity for marine applications. ACI's program manager noted the NiZn will provide more than double the capacity of lead-acid in the same form factor.
• CPG (Commercial Power Group)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2020CPG, a pioneer in data center industry for nearly 20 years providing full lifecycle mission-critical infrastructure solutions, installed the first data center running on NiZn batteries using ZAF Energy in 2020 for a global data center operator. CPG integrates ZAF batteries into comprehensive UPS and power solutions for Fortune 1000 companies.
• Aerojet RocketdynecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2019Aerojet Rocketdyne and ZAF established a teaming agreement to develop an energy storage system combining ZAF's NiZn batteries with Aerojet Rocketdyne's battery management system (BMS). The joint system targets mission-critical aerospace and defense applications. Aerojet Rocketdyne CEO Eileen Drake noted that the partnership expands their power systems portfolio. While NiZn does not require BMS for safety, the integrated BMS enhances reliability and extends cycle life for aerospace and defense applications.
• Atlantic Battery SystemsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFourth-generation battery supplier and partner offering ZAF's NiZn batteries in its product portfolio. Serves stationary energy storage, motive, and commercial markets and provides customized UL battery UPS systems for data center and telecom applications. Partner has broad distribution reach in North American battery markets.
• eNow EnergyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributoreNow Energy, an innovative clean-technology company specializing in renewable energy systems for the trucking industry since 2011, integrates ZAF's NiZn batteries into its proprietary solar-based HVAC, refrigeration, lift gate, and telematics systems. eNow has installed over 4,500 systems across the US and is exploring applications in boating and RVs.
• IntrapackminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIntrapack is a leading supplier for data center and telecom standby power battery systems. Product portfolio includes custom battery cabinets, front terminal battery cabinets, UPS batteries, and NiZn batteries from ZAF. Serves as channel partner integrating ZAF batteries into customer solutions.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Broad incumbents

• EnerSys: EnerSys is a global leader in industrial batteries, including lead-acid and lithium-ion products for motive power, stationary, and specialty applications. Directly competes with ZAF in data center UPS, trucking, and aerospace/defense markets with broad product portfolio across multiple chemistries. As the largest pure-play industrial battery manufacturer, EnerSys is the primary incumbent ZAF must displace to scale.
• EaglePicher Technologies: EaglePicher Technologies is a leading US defense and specialty battery manufacturer producing batteries for space, defense, aviation, and medical applications. ZAF's CEO Randy Moore, VP Operations Tom Shireman, and VP Engineering Dr. Listerud all came from EaglePicher, and the company competes directly for defense/aerospace battery programs including Navy submarine batteries.
• Clarios: Clarios (formerly Johnson Controls Power Solutions) is the world's largest automotive battery manufacturer and a major producer of lead-acid batteries for industrial applications including data center UPS. Board member Raymond Brown was previously VP of Asia/Pacific Sales at Johnson Controls Power Solutions. Clarios represents the dominant lead-acid incumbent whose market share ZAF is targeting.
• East Penn Manufacturing: East Penn Manufacturing is one of the largest privately-held battery manufacturers in the world, producing lead-acid batteries for automotive, commercial, motive power, and stationary applications. Directly competes with ZAF in Group 31 format batteries for trucking and industrial markets with extensive North American manufacturing footprint.
• Saft (TotalEnergies): Saft is a French battery manufacturer owned by TotalEnergies, specializing in advanced battery systems for industrial, defense, space, and renewable energy applications. Directly competes with ZAF in defense submarine batteries, aerospace, and industrial energy storage with broader lithium-ion and nickel-based product portfolio.
• GS Yuasa: GS Yuasa is a major Japanese battery manufacturer producing lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries for automotive, industrial, aerospace, and defense applications. Competes with ZAF in aviation (Cessna Citation, Boeing 737 segment) and industrial backup power markets, particularly for aircraft batteries where NiCd replacement is sought.

Direct peers

• ViZn Energy Systems: ViZn Energy is a zinc battery startup founded by the same Craig and Dave Wilkins brothers who later founded ZAF Energy Systems. ViZn focused on zinc-iron flow batteries for grid-scale energy storage. As a same-founder prior venture pursuing zinc-based chemistries, ViZn represents ZAF's most direct technical and commercial lineage peer, though ZAF has chosen NiZn prismatic cells rather than flow batteries.
• NantEnergy: NantEnergy (formerly Fluidic Energy) developed rechargeable zinc-air battery technology for off-grid and rural electrification applications, particularly telecom backup power. Competes with ZAF's zinc-air pouch cell in the zinc-based battery chemistry space with focus on developing-world telecom and asset tracking applications.

Emerging players

• EnZinc: EnZinc is an early-stage company developing zinc-based battery technology with 3D zinc sponge electrodes for applications including electric vehicles and grid storage. Represents an emerging zinc battery competitor with similar chemistry positioning targeting automotive and stationary energy storage markets.
• Salient Energy: Salient Energy is an emerging zinc battery startup developing zinc-ion battery technology for grid-scale and behind-the-meter energy storage. While focused on zinc-ion rather than NiZn chemistry, Salient represents a new generation of zinc-based battery competitors pursuing safety and cost advantages for stationary storage applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses3 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds5 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ZAF Energy Systems