Founded in 2011, Sila nano has developed a series of battery cathode products with silicon as the main material, aiming to replace the traditional graphite electrode with this material, so as to improve the capacity of the cell.
Sila nano says its materials can increase the energy density of lithium batteries by 20% and even 40%. These materials are used in the production of new generation batteries, which have the characteristics of long service cycle, ultra-low expansion rate and high energy density.
Since its establishment, Sila nano has received investments from Daimler, BMW, ATL, 8vc, Bessemer venture partners, Samsung, Chengwei capital, matrix partners, Siemens next47, uthill ventures and other enterprises, with a current valuation of US $3.3 billion (about RMB 21.5 billion).
At present, Sila nano is cooperating with BMW, ATL and other enterprises to develop the next generation battery. However, Sila nano claims that it plans to mass produce its silicon-based cathode materials in 2024, which means that its new battery materials can not be commercialized at present.
To obtain the certification of automobile enterprises means that it will take many years of work to ensure the reliability of battery materials in the next 10 to 20 years, "said gene Berdichevsky, CEO of Sila nano. Our partnership is oriented to the production goal of mid-2020, but the qualification certification will take a long time.
Behind Sila nano's acceleration of mass production of its new battery materials is that the United States is currently strengthening the construction of local electric vehicle battery supply chain to enhance the competitive advantage of the United States in the electric vehicle industry chain.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed an executive order on February 24 to address the vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain of necessities, including semiconductors and electric vehicle power batteries. The goal of its climate plan is to achieve zero net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. In the future, it is expected to launch a long-term development plan for new energy vehicles at the federal government level.
This means that the United States will invest more funds and policy support in the construction of local power battery industry chain, so as to provide good development opportunities for local lithium battery enterprises.
For American carmakers, they also want to produce batteries locally. At present, in addition to Tesla, the battery supply of main engine plants including general motors, Ford and Volkswagen in the United States depends on imports. The United States lacks the capacity of local large-scale production of power batteries and supporting services of the industrial chain.
In order to ensure the stability of battery supply, American main engine manufacturers also began to strengthen their layout in the field of power batteries.
Foreign media reported that GM is considering building a second joint venture battery factory with its battery supplier LG energy in the United States to increase the output of its electric vehicles.
Prior to this, GM and LG energy have jointly invested US $2.3 billion (about RMB 16.2 billion at the then exchange rate) to establish a battery factory, ultium cells LLC, in lodeston, Ohio, with a planned capacity of 30gwh, which is expected to be put into operation by the end of 2022.
Mary Barra, GM's chief executive, said the battery shortage was one of the reasons GM invested in its own battery manufacturing.
Ford and Volkswagen were finally ruled by the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) that their battery supplier ski had embezzled the trade secrets of rival LG Chemical. Ski was banned by ITC from selling batteries, modules, battery packs and related parts in the United States in the next 10 years.
At present, ski is building two power battery factories in the United States, and also has billions of dollars of battery orders from Ford and Volkswagen. Once ITC formally implements the ban, it will undoubtedly have a great impact on ski's power battery business in the United States and the battery supply of Ford and Volkswagen.
In this case, the construction process of electric supply chain in the United States will be further accelerated.
