Hanneke Weitering is a writer and editor with AIN covering advanced air mobility and new flight technologies. She became an aviation journalist and joined the AIN team in the summer of 2022 after reporting on spaceflight and astronomy for six years at Space.com. After earning a bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, she moved to New York City to pursue a master’s degree in science, health, and environmental reporting at New York University&#039;s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She is now based in Seattle near Boeing Field and spends her free time exploring nature in the Pacific Northwest.

Science & Technology Editor

Hanneke Weitering

Aircraft battery developer Amprius Technologies has launched a higher-energy version of its SiCore high-performance lithium-ion battery. The new 450 Wh/kg battery cell is the most energy-dense iteration of the company’s SiCore line, which <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-01-14/amprius-boosts-evtol-performance-sicore-battery-cells">launched in January with a 370 Wh/kg cell</a>.&nbsp;
According to Amprius, its SiCore battery line is the first in the industry to feature a combination of high energy, power, and discharge rates, which makes these cells suitable for electric aircraft and other vehicles that require rapid energy delivery and endurance.&nbsp;Featuring the company’s proprietary silicon-anode technology, the SiCore cells pack 80% more energy than conventional lithium-ion cells with graphite anodes, the company claims.
Mass production of the 450 Wh/kg SiCore batteries is expected to begin “in the near term” at three contract manufacturing partner facilities in China, the company announced on April 23. California-based Amprius, which aims to secure more manufacturing partners in Asia and Europe, has yet to comment on the impact U.S. tariffs could have on its operations.
Later this quarter, Amprius expects the 450 Wh/kg SiCore battery to secure UN 38.3 certification, which verifies that they are safe to ship after extensive testing. This is a requirement for the transport of lithium batteries, which are designated as “dangerous goods.”
Amprius noted that aviation and defense customers are already preparing commercial deployments of this new 450 Wh/kg SiCore cell. At least <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/futureflight/2025-02-25/amprius-inks-15-million-battery-deal-drone-maker">one drone manufacturer has placed a firm order</a> for the SiCore batteries, and Amprius holds orders from <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/news-article/2023-11-07/battery-maker-amprius-secures-orders-three-electric-aircraft-developers">three electric aircraft developers</a> for custom silicon anode batteries. In March, Amprius said it had shipped a variant of the SiCore batteries to a Fortune 500 company in the light electric vehicle sector for evaluation.
“We’ve demonstrated what’s possible at 450 Wh/kg with our SiMaxx platform years ago,” said Amprius CEO Kang Sun. “What makes this SiCore cell different and noteworthy is that it brings that level of extreme performance into a cell chemistry and format that are ready to scale with the existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing processes and equipment in the industry. It’s production-ready, commercially available, and already being qualified by customers today.”
Amprius is producing the SiMaxx battery cells at its own laboratory in Fremont, California. The SiMaxx cells offer higher energy densities of up to 500 Wh/kg and more than double the cycle life. Because they involve costly and highly specialized manufacturing processes, Amprius is not outsourcing SiMaxx production. The company remains focused on scaling SiCore production. Revenues from the SiCore line will support the expansion of the SiMaxx production line in Fremont as well as a new factory Amprius is building in Brighton, Colorado.

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