Silicon anode lithium-ion battery cell with 500 Wh/kg density

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Fremont, California-based Amprius announced it has verified the performance of its silicon anode battery cells with third-party tester Mobile Power Solutions. The results indicate that this cell model provides 504 Wh per kg and 1321 Wh per L at 25 degrees C.

Amprius said the silicon anode cell is roughly half the weight and volume of leading conventional commercially available lithium-ion cells.

The cells have applications in the fast-growing electric aviation space and could later be integrated with electric vehicles. Together, electric aviation and light-duty EV battery demand is estimated to exceed over $100 billion globally by 2025, said the company.

The Amprius cells offer a run time of 200% compared to leading graphite battery cells, while being lighter and smaller than other batteries with the same energy content.

“This latest validation continues Amprius’ track record of producing the world’s most powerful battery cells and sets an industry benchmark for next-generation battery technology that will ultimately revolutionize how high we fly, how far we travel and how long we can use our devices,” said Jon Bornstein, president of Amprius Labs.

Customers can adjust specifications on the battery cell platform to meet their project’s engineering needs. The customizable platform allows customers to select the option to either increase energy content in a battery pack without increasing weight, reduce weight in applications that target a fixed energy content, or a combinations of the two. Higher energy is important for longer run times, range and endurance, while lighter packs increase energy efficiency.

The battery cells are planned to be integrated with the AALTO Zephyr, a high-altitude platform station (HAPS). The solar-electric telecommunications aircraft offers persistent earth observation with 18cm ground sampling distance, near-real-time video and imagery from the stratosphere, day and night.

“We look forward to taking advantage of Amprius’ 500 Wh/kg cell to further develop Zephyr’s unrivalled stratospheric endurance capabilities,” said Pierre-Antoine Aubourg, chief technical officer at AALTO HAPS, an Airbus subsidiary. “Amprius is a valued current supplier with a great track-record, and we are confident that its battery will deliver the capability we need.”

Amprius operates a research and development laboratory in Fremont, California. It recently signed a letter of intent for a 774,000 square foot facility in Brighton, Colorado that would provide up to 5 GWh of manufacturing capacity.

The Department of Energy (DOE) targets improvements in battery performance to stabilize the critical materials supply chain and offer attractive products to vehicle buyers. “While a number of electric drive vehicles are available on the market, further improvements in batteries could make them more affordable and convenient to consumers,” according to the DOE.

The DOE funds advanced battery development, systems analysis, and testing in pursuit of these goals. Read more about DOE’s involvement with batteries here.

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