Amprius announces SiCore cell chemistry breakthrough
Amprius’ new battery cell, based on its Silicon Anode Platform, is presented with the bold claim to “revolutionize high-performance electric mobility” by offering “unparalleled power-to-energy capabilities for high-demand applications.” Amprius further expects the battery cell technology to set new standards for high-demand applications.
Six sample units of pre-production 10 Ah batteries were delivered to customers for testing in the fourth quarter of 2024, however, Amprius does not specify who is actually testing the batteries. The commercialization is currently planned for the first quarter of 2025,
A first customer has already been found, with Teledyne FLIR, a company which produces unmanned “solutions” for military and public safety customers. The breakthrough in battery technology would mean a lot for drones, where every gram of weight affects operation. Tung Ng, Vice President of Unmanned Systems North America at Teledyne FLIR, explained: “Amprius’ new SiCore cell is positioned to deliver a transformative boost in power and energy for our unmanned aerial systems, extending mission durations while maintaining critical performance under demanding conditions.”
“This SiCore cell is a significant technical breakthrough for the industry, achieving a level of power-to-energy ratio that we believe has not been seen at such high-energy density,” said Dr Ionel Stefan, CTO of Amprius Technologies. “By optimizing the silicon anode composition without compromising the other performance metrics of the cell, we have redefined the trade-off between power and energy. This cell is not just about performance but about creating new power possibilities for high-demand applications.”
The development speed is impressive: Last November, Amprius Technologies presented silicon nanowire battery technology with an energy density of 360 Wh/kg and capable of charging up to 90% of its rated energy within 15 minutes. In 2023, the company even managed a research breakthrough reaching an energy density of 500 Wh/kg.
In February 2022, Amprius delivered cells with an energy density of 450 Wh/kg and 1,150 Wh/l respectively, initially for use in satellites, saying that the cells with silicon in the form of nanowires as anode material could also make it into future electric vehicles.
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