In a major breakthrough for electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, Amprius Technologies has shipped its high-performance SiMaxx A-Sample EV cells to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC), made to challenges facing the EV market, such as range anxiety and the need for faster charging.

Amprius’ internal testing of the A-Sample EV cells has yielded impressive results, exceeding several of USABC’s advanced performance targets for EVs. The cells achieved an industry-leading specific energy of 360 Wh/kg at the beginning of life, surpassing USABC’s end-of-life target of 275 Wh/kg. This represents a significant leap in energy efficiency, potentially enabling longer driving ranges without increasing battery size.

However, it is not just energy density where these cells shine. They can also charge up to 90% of their rated energy in just 15 minutes, outperforming USABC’s goal of 80% in the same timeframe. This rapid charging capability could help alleviate “range anxiety” and make EV ownership more convenient for buyers.

“We look forward to USABC validation of the A-sample cell performance towards showcasing the unique advantages of Amprius cells in electric vehicles,” stated Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies. “With their superior energy and power performance, fast charging, wide operating temperature range, and safety features, Amprius is continuing to transform the EV sector and other electric mobility segments as we scale toward high-volume manufacturing.”

The successful delivery of the A-Sample EV cells marks the final milestone in a $3 million technology development contract between Amprius and USABC, which was awarded in May 2022. The contract focused on creating low-cost, fast-charging silicon nanowire batteries – a key area of focus for the consortium.

Notably, USABC is a subsidiary of the United States Council for Automotive Research (USCAR), a collaborative technology company involving Ford, General Motors (GM), and Stellantis. Enabled by a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), USABC’s mission is to advance electrochemical energy storage technologies that can accelerate the commercialization of next-generation EVs.

Amprius has been working closely with USABC and the DOE on these cutting-edge battery cells, and the company has also been engaging with multiple automotive OEMs about adopting this technology. With agreements in place for over 500 MWh of contract manufacturing, Amprius is set to scale up production and get these high-performance batteries into the hands of EV buyers.

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As the automotive landscape continues to see the emergence of EV adoption, battery innovations like those from Amprius could be a game-changer, helping to overcome key barriers to acclerate the transition to electric mobility.

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