In a challenging landscape for battery startups, Sila has successfully raised $375 million to complete a U.S. factory dedicated to scaling its advanced battery technology.
The goal is to supply customers like Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic by the end of 2025.
Moses Lake Plant to Begin Mass Production
Sila, formerly Sila Nanotechnologies, is on track to finish construction of its Moses Lake, Washington plant in early 2025. This facility will initiate mass production of the company’s Titan Silicon anode material.
The all-equity Series G round, led by existing investors Sutter Hill Ventures with participation from others, stands out in an environment where many electric vehicle battery companies face difficulties. Several startups have either closed or experienced setbacks in bringing their products to market.
Confidence in Technology and Scalability
Sila’s ability to attract substantial funding in a challenging market reflects confidence in its battery chemistry approach and ability to scale production. Gene Berdichevsky, Sila’s founder and CEO, emphasizes the importance of both scientific innovation and scalability.
Sila’s innovation lies in replacing the graphite in lithium-ion battery anodes with silicon. This material offers a more localizable supply chain and creates denser, cheaper cells with faster charging capabilities. Notably, this change doesn’t necessitate major production process alterations for cell manufacturers.
Silicon Anodes: The Key to Improved Energy Density
The anode is a crucial battery component responsible for storing lithium during charging. By replacing graphite with silicon, Sila claims a 20% to 25% increase in energy density in its current products, with the potential for a 40% increase in the future.
Sila states that future iterations of its Titan Silicon technology will enable recharge times of under 10 minutes and lower battery costs. This technology has already been supplied to automakers for testing in limited quantities.
Moses Lake Facility: A Leap Towards Commercial Production
The Moses Lake facility is a significant step towards achieving automotive-scale production. While automakers will still need to conduct final validation, the plant enables the manufacturing of Titan Silicon at a scale suitable for mass-market electric vehicles.
Sila’s technology is set to be integrated into the Mercedes electric G-Wagon and is also slated for Panasonic, a major supplier of EV batteries. Beyond these, Sila plans to announce partnerships with other automotive and consumer electronics companies. The Moses Lake facility has the potential for future expansion to supply Titan Silicon for over a million vehicles.