US firm Amprius Technologies has launched a production-ready 450Wh/kg version of its SiCore lithium-ion battery.
The California-based firm’s lithium-ion cell uses a silicon anode to reach 950Wh/L. The first version of the SiCore technology was launched in January 2024.
Following evaluation, the company will move the latest version of the cell into qualification with leading aviation and defence customers in preparation for commercial deployment.
The company aims to get UN38.3 certification, which is required for the safe air transport of lithium-ion batteries, for the new cell this quarter.
The battery will be targeted at aviation and defence applications where energy density, weight, and cyclability are key requirements.
Possible applications will include: High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS), Medium-Altitude Platform Stations (MAPS), and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies, said the cell chemistry and format were ready to scale with the existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes and equipment in the industry.
Amprius expects to move to mass production of the new cell in the near term through its manufacturing partners. The company previously secured more than 1.8GWh of contract manufacturing capacity through several agreements with battery makers.
The company does have an R&D laboratory and a MWh-scale manufacturing facility for the fabrication of silicon anodes and cells in Freemont, California, where it’s headquartered.
In February, the company announced it had secured a $15 million purchase order from an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) manufacturer for its SiCore cell. Read more here.
Photo: The new 450 Wh/Kg SiCore™ battery. Credit: Amprius
