As artificial intelligence reshapes the digital infrastructure landscape, data centers are facing an entirely new kind of power challenge. Traditional UPS systems built for steady, predictable loads are now being pushed to their limits by the intense, short-duration power pulses that come with GPU clusters and large-scale AI training. The industry is discovering that “always-on” no longer means “always-steady.”
That’s where ZincFive’s new BC 2 AI battery cabinet enters the picture: a nickel-zinc (NiZn) solution purpose-built to support the dual demands of AI pulse power and runtime assurance in a single system.
The New Pulse of Power
Unlike legacy backup batteries, the BC 2 AI is optimized for what ZincFive calls dual-mode operation. This means it can instantly respond to sharp power surges from GPUs while still providing reliable backup during an outage, a capability that’s becoming essential as AI workloads reshape facility power profiles.
Inside the cabinet is ZincFive’s new 90Ah NiZn battery, engineered for high-intensity discharge cycles. Combined with an advanced Battery Management System, it delivers lightning-fast transient response and superior power density, all while maintaining the safety and sustainability credentials NiZn is known for.
In practical terms, that means the BC 2 AI can help facilities handle AI’s dynamic power spikes without overbuilding upstream infrastructure. Operators can reduce UPS oversizing, lower capital costs, and simplify grid interactions, key wins as data centers look for efficiency in every kilowatt.
Smaller Footprint, Bigger Impact
Space efficiency has become one of the quietest but most important metrics in data center design. Competing systems can require two to four times the footprint to meet AI’s rapid-fire power bursts and sometimes needing capacity equal to 150% of the UPS rating. The BC 2 AI delivers the same performance in a significantly smaller space, leveraging NiZn’s high power density to deliver a smarter, denser architecture.
And the sustainability advantages are impossible to ignore. Nickel-zinc batteries are non-flammable, fully recyclable, and cut greenhouse gas emissions up to six times lower than lithium-ion and four times lower than lead-acid alternatives. For data centers under pressure to reduce Scope 3 emissions, those numbers matter.
Building for the Future of AI Infrastructure
As hyperscalers, colocation providers, and UPS OEMs design power architectures for the AI age, BC 2 AI stands out as both a technical and strategic innovation. It bridges the gap between traditional UPS runtime expectations and the pulse-ready responsiveness required by AI-driven environments. Its field-upgradable design means facilities can scale performance as AI workloads evolve, a critical feature in a market where compute intensity changes almost monthly.
“AI is transforming the very foundation of data centers, creating new challenges that legacy technologies cannot solve,” notes ZincFive CEO Tod Higinbotham. “With BC 2 AI, we’re delivering a safe, sustainable, and future-ready power solution designed for the most demanding workloads.”
Recognition of a Broader Movement
ZincFive’s technology continues to earn attention beyond the data center space. The company has been recognized by TIME on its 2025 World’s and America’s Top GreenTech Companies lists, earned a 2024 Edison Award™, and received CleanTech Breakthrough’s 2024 Overall Innovation of the Year. These accolades reflect a growing consensus: NiZn batteries are not just an alternative chemistry, they’re a new class of clean, reliable power technology.
As AI accelerates, the data center’s definition of mission-critical power is evolving. The ZincFive BC 2 AI brings intelligence, agility, and sustainability to the battery room, helping operators keep pace with compute-hungry applications without sacrificing safety or space.
Learn more about BC 2 AI and watch the overview video here.
Read the full press release here.
