On Sept. 29, Panasonic announced a new flexible Lithium-ion battery which can be used to make bendable cards and wearable devices. Made of four layers surrounded by an outer layer of laminate, it can bend to a radius of 22 millimeters or twist to 25 degrees. The 0.022 inch battery exceeds Japanese industry standards for use in smart cars or identification cards, and is durable enough to stand up to repeated bending and twisting as might be required for wearable devices.

Additionally, that bending and twisting has no negative effect on the device the battery can power. Lab tests showed 99 percent capacity retention if the batteries were twisted to 25 degrees. It can hold from 17.5 mAh to 60 mAh depending on the size of the battery, a range that works for low-power devices but not so much for something like a cell phone. Instead, its size and flexibility make it a good candidate for wearables. The batteries weigh between 0.7 grams and 1.9 grams depending on the size.

As well as preventing against cracking, the laminate surface was designed to avoid leakage and abnormal heating, even if subjected to repeated twisting and bending. Panasonic is working on making an even thinner form factor for use in IoT devices.

The flexible battery was first displayed from Oct. 4 -7. Shipments are expected to go out by the end of October 2016.