On December 22, 2025, we officially launched “Project 222” – a mission to develop a 18650 battery compartment that could be securely mounted on a Picatinny rail. That mission is now complete, and the result is the EPS-A1.
From day one, we worked closely with our existing customers to define exactly what this product needed to deliver.
First, it had to be tough. The EPS-A1 must withstand continuous recoil from rifles equipped with Picatinny rails, protecting the internal 18650 battery while ensuring the Type-C connector never loosens under heavy fire.
Second, two-way charging capability. The unit must not only power thermal scopes, weapon lights, and laser aiming modules from its installed battery, but also allow the internal 18650 to be recharged directly from an external power source – charge and use, no downtime.
Third, universal 18650 compatibility. Our extensive experience with thermal imaging scopes taught us that 18650 batteries vary widely – flat top, button top, thicker, thinner, longer, shorter. The EPS-A1 had to accept them all. We engineered an oversized battery compartment with a spring and silicone pad buffer system – large batteries fit securely, and smaller ones stay locked in place without rattling or damaging the contacts.
Fourth, premium water and dust sealing. A genuine firearm-grade battery compartment must be rugged and fully sealed. We performed multiple seal tests during production, and the results were outstanding: when tested by SGS Laboratory, the EPS-A1 passed IP68 and UL certification with flying colors.
The development journey ran from December 22, 2025, to April 2, 2026 – nearly four months. We ran impact tests repeatedly, revised the design over and over, and filed a patent application along the way. From concept to design to production and testing, Novelty Point Optics maintained constant communication with our global distributors and professional users, demonstrating our mature engineering capabilities and efficient execution.
For the first production run, we prepared components and accessories for 2,000 units. Our customer in Poland placed the very first order – 100 units – even before the product was officially off the production line. Last week, those 100 units were shipped to Warsaw. Meanwhile, sample orders are now on their way to Moscow, Dallas, and Virginia. Our first batch of 180 self-operated units has also been sent to Amazon USA, and we expect customers to be able to purchase the EPS-A1 directly from the Novelty Point Optics official Amazon store by the end of April.
Special thanks to Tommy and Sergei for their expert advice. Your feedback made the EPS-A1 a better product.
Find out more about the possibility of working with Novelty point optics in OEM manufacturing, product developing please contact us!