2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Hanneke Weitering

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

News and issues relating to civil and military unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) of all kinds and sizes, including those used for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), combat (unmanned combat air vehicles, or UCAVs), law enforcement, research and other applications. Of particular focus is the FAA's planned integration of UAS into the U.S. national airspace system.

SiCore batteries now shipping from an expanded pilot line in Fremont, California

Amprius Boosts U.S. Battery Production as Drone Market Surges

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

450 Wh/kg SiCore batteries are now commercially available

Amprius Launches Higher-energy ‘SiCore’ Batteries for Aircraft

Unspecified fixed-wing UAS will feature SiCore battery cells

Amprius Inks $15 Million Battery Deal with Drone Maker

News and developments about aircraft engines, including turbofan, turboprop, turboshaft and piston.

News and developments about aviation fuel, including jet fuel, aviation gasoline, and biofuel.

SiCore cells offer rapid energy delivery without compromising on endurance

Amprius Says 'SiCore' Batteries Will Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Amprius says it has signed deals with three electric aircraft developers for the purchase of its next-generation lithium-ion battery cells, which pack an ultra-high energy density of 450 Wh/kg. The California-based battery developer did not disclose the identity of its customers or the volume of the new orders, only that it will be delivering custom battery cells to three “premier electric aviation manufacturers.”&nbsp;
The <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-11/amprius-raises-energy-density-stakes-450-whkg-battery">450 Wh/kg battery platform</a> is designed to support products with higher power needs, including electric airplanes and new eVTOL aircraft, which use significantly more power to take off and land than their conventional fixed-wing counterparts.&nbsp;Featuring the company’s proprietary silicon nanowire anode technology, the 450 Wh/kg battery system packs a higher energy density than any commercially available lithium-ion batteries, according to Amprius.
“Our new family of customizable ultra-high-energy density cells offers the ability to significantly reduce weight and increase range,” said Amprius CEO Kang Sun. “Amprius is proud to support the advancement of electric mobility by delivering energy density performance that is unmatched by conventional cells available on the market today.”
Amprius developed the 450 Wh/kg battery system for high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS), or drones that fly in the stratosphere on long-duration missions requiring high power and endurance. It delivered the first 450-Wh/kg cells to a HAPS developer in early 2022. Airbus has used the batteries to power its Zephyr solar-powered drone, which flew on a 64-day-long mission last summer. Amprius has also been working with British defense contractor <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-31/bae-systems-taps-battery-maker-amprius-electric-aviation-and-defense">BAE Systems</a> to integrate its batteries into electric aircraft and other unspecified defense technologies.
“Our flight missions require extremely high energy batteries to achieve our performance requirements,” said Dave Corfield, CEO of Prismatic, a BAE subsidiary that is using the Amrpius system in its Persistent High Altitude Solar Aircraft (PHASA-35), a fixed-wing drone featuring solar panels that recharge the batteries during flight. With a wingspan of 35 meters (115 feet), the PHASA-35 weighs a mere 150 kilograms (330 pounds). “Partnering with Amprius, we were able to integrate their ultra-high-energy density batteries to achieve our mass targets which are critical to PHASA-35 performance,” Corfield said.
Since it introduced the 450 Wh/kg platform last year, Amprius has developed another battery cell system with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and a significantly <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2023-08-04/amprius-declares-breakthrough-aviation-battery-technology">higher discharge rate</a> of 10C, which allows for ultra-fast charging. Those new battery cells, which are expected to hit the market in 2024, can charge from zero to 80 percent in under six minutes. Last month Amprius announced that it had secured its first purchase order from an as-yet-unnamed eVTOL manufacturer that intends to integrate the battery system into a technology demonstrator sometime in 2024.&nbsp;

Science & Technology Editor

Battery Maker Amprius Secures Orders from Three Electric Aircraft Developers

Battery manufacturer Amprius Technologies says it has achieved a new breakthrough in battery technology for electric aircraft and road vehicles with its creation of a new ultra-high-power, high-energy lithium-ion battery that the company claims will provide “unmatched propulsion power and energy.”
The company’s batteries, which are made with silicon nanowire anodes, offer higher energy densities than traditional lithium-ion batteries, most of which are made with graphite or carbon-based anodes. Silicon anodes can store up to 10 times more lithium atoms and therefore provide a significantly higher charging capacity than other types of lithium-ion batteries.&nbsp;
With its latest product, which the California-based company announced August 3, Amprius has developed a silicon-anode lithium-ion battery that packs an energy density of 400 Wh/kg while simultaneously touting an impressively high discharge rate of 10C. Amprius says the new battery can charge from empty to 80 percent in under six minutes.&nbsp;
For comparison, the batteries that power electric cars today have peak discharge rates of around 5C. The so-called “C-rate” represents the rate at which a battery discharges relative to its maximum capacity. A battery with a 10C rating will fully charge and discharge in half the time it would take a battery with a C-rate of 5C.&nbsp;
This new battery could be used for applications like eVTOL aircraft as well as electric road vehicles. According to Amprius, it could enable electric cars to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 kph) in 1.5 seconds—faster than any electric vehicle on the market today.&nbsp;
“Commercial opportunities in electric mobility are profoundly impacted by their power and energy requirements,” said Amprius CEO Kang Sun. “Our new cell delivers impressive specific power and energy density performance, approximately 200 percent higher than traditional graphite cells, while achieving a 10C discharge rate, significantly expanding application possibilities and driving cost-effectiveness.”
Amprius says the combination of its batteries’ high energy and power densities reduces both their weight and volume. For electric vehicles, that means more range, fewer trips to charging stations, and less downtime spent charging. According to Amprius, the new battery has a power density of 3,500 W/kg in standard discharge conditions and a maximum power of 4,400 W/kg at lower depths of discharge (i.e., when battery charge levels are low).
The new 10C, 400 Wh/kg batteries are expected to hit the market in 2024, and Amprius says it will have samples available for prospective customers by the end of this year. In addition to the 10C, 400 Wh/kg battery, Amprius has several <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-11/amprius-raises-energy-density-stakes-450-whkg-battery">other high-performance lithium-ion batteries</a> that are already commercially available with energy densities ranging from 380 to 500 Wh/kg.&nbsp;
The company is already providing battery cells for several drone applications, and it intends to offer its products to companies developing larger electric aircraft. In October 2022, Amprius began <a href="https://futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-10-31/bae-systems-taps-battery-maker-amprius-electric-aviation-and-defense">working with British defense contractor BAE Systems</a> to develop batteries for electric aircraft and other unspecified defense technologies. Just last month the partners announced that batteries developed by Amprius had successfully powered a stratospheric drone during its first flight trial.&nbsp;
That aircraft was the PHASA-35, a high-altitude pseudo satellite (HAPS) designed by BAE subsidiary Prismatic. The PHASA-35 is a solar-electric drone that uses solar power to charge its batteries, which are supplied by Amprius. During its first flight, the aircraft soared to altitudes above 66,000 feet, reaching the stratosphere before safely landing at its test site in New Mexico.&nbsp;
In addition to its work with BAE, Amprius has established partnerships with a handful of players in the electric aviation and defense industries. An Amprius spokesperson told FutureFlight that the company is working with Teledyne FLIR, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies, to power uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) with defense and security applications. Airbus subsidiary Aalto has also been using Amprius batteries to power its autonomous HAPS, called <a href="https://ainonline.com/aviation-news/aerospace/2022-07-19/airbus-launches-connectivity-unit-solar-powered-zephyr">Zephyr</a>.&nbsp;
The spokesperson added that Amprius is preparing to supply “commercial-level shipments” to California-based UAS manufacturer AeroVironment in support of the company’s Switchblade 300 Block 20 loitering missile system. “There are also multiple projects ongoing with the U.S. Military, including developing safe cells for wearables and high-energy cells for other defense applications,” they said.

Amprius Declares a Breakthrough in Aviation Battery Technology

British defense contractor BAE Systems has entered into a three-year cooperation agreement with lithium-ion battery developer Amprius Technologies, the companies announced last week. Amprius will supply BAE with lightweight and high-energy batteries for electric aviation applications, while leaving the door open to other possible uses in BAE’s defense technologies.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-05-13/battery-supplier-amprius-boost-electric-mobility-ambitions-equity-flotation">Amprius</a> is a Fremont, California-based company developing high-energy lithium-ion batteries with silicon nanowire anode technology. The company claims that its batteries deliver the highest energy density of any existing lithium-ion batteries.&nbsp;
“Amprius has engaged with many companies to provide our cells to power their electric propulsion systems,” a company spokesperson told FutureFlight. “Amprius has also provided batteries for the high-performance, high-altitude experimental drone aircraft manufactured by Airbus Defense and Space for the U.S Army. The Airbus Zephyr flew for 64 days straight, partially thanks to its Amprius battery packs. Since we offer the only commercially available <a href="https://www.futureflight.aero/news-article/2022-02-11/amprius-raises-energy-density-stakes-450-whkg-battery">lithium-ion cells over 450 Wh/kg</a> that contain the performance advantage of a 100&nbsp;percent silicon anode, Amprius Technologies is well-positioned to capitalize on the growing electric aviation market.”
Whereas most lithium-ion batteries use graphite powder or other carbon materials for their anode—the negatively charged electrode inside the battery—Amprius uses silicon, which can store up to 10 times more lithium and therefore has a significantly higher charging capacity.&nbsp;
However, silicon also tends to swell and crack when charged with lithium, which can cause batteries to stop working. To solve that problem, Amprius has developed anodes with silicon nanowires, a configuration that tolerates the swelling and is resistant to cracking. The silicon nanowire anodes replace the traditional graphite anodes, while the rest of the battery’s components are the same as with other lithium-ion batteries.
“Amprius’s innovative silicon nanowire anode battery cells have the potential to deliver exceptional performance, and so we’re keen to work with them to explore opportunities for the electric products that we’re developing for military applications,” said Dave Holmes, advanced projects, technology and manufacturing director at BAE Systems’ Air.
The Amprius spokesperson told FutureFlight that the company's silicon anode batteries can be used in any product&nbsp;that utilizes battery technology, including any&nbsp;electric products that BAE is developing for military applications. For example, BAE's product portfolio includes electronic warfare systems that detect&nbsp;and disable&nbsp;radio frequency threats,&nbsp;surveillance and reconnaissance sensors, communications equipment, and military vehicles for air, land, and sea.
“BAE Systems is at the technological forefront of the defense industry, and this agreement validates the potential of our silicon nanowire anode technology for rigorous aerial applications,” said Amprius CEO Kang Sun.

BAE Systems Taps Battery Maker Amprius for Electric Aviation and Defense Applications

Battery manufacturer Amprius Technologies aims to raise about $430 million by going public through a business combination with special purpose acquisition company Kensington Capital. The deal, announced on May 12 and expected to close in the second half of this year, will generate capital to advance Amprius’s ambitions in emerging electric mobility sectors, including aviation.&nbsp;Funds raised from the initial public offering will mainly be used to build battery manufacturing capability.
According to CEO Kang Sun, Amprius is pursuing possible future applications for its batteries on electric aircraft seating up to 20 passengers, and also on smaller eVTOL vehicles. It is already supplying equipment to several pseudo-satellite and uncrewed aircraft manufacturers involved in delivery, imaging, and military applications, including Aerovironment, Kraus-Hamdani, and Teledyne-FLIR.
Amprius has previously provided batteries for the Zephyr solar-powered, high-altitude surveillance platform developed by Airbus, which has previously invested in the company. It also supplies cells to the U.S. Army and is targeting the automotive industry as well.
The company says it has demonstrated 500 WH/kg cells with a current rating of 10C and aims to have these available for commercial use in early 2023. Testing by independent laboratories has validated an 0 to 80 percent&nbsp;state of charge in six minutes.
In February, the company delivered the first examples of its latest 450-Wh/kg, 1150-Wh/L high-energy-density lithium-ion cells. Compared with commonly available 300-Wh/kg batteries, the new cells, which use the U.S. company’s Si-Nanowire anode technology, represent a further improvement on the 405-Wh/kg product unveiled as recently as last November. 
Recent initial public offerings in the advanced air mobility sector have generally underperformed in terms of the amounts of capital raised. In the cases of eVTOL aircraft developers like Eve and Vertical Aerospace, that has been because of the high volume of share redemptions by investors in their special purpose acquisition companies.
This story was updated on May 16, with additional information about existing aviation applications and new higher-density batteries.

Managing Editor

Charles Alcock

Battery Supplier Amprius To Boost Electric Mobility Ambitions with Equity Flotation

Battery manufacturer Amprius Technologies has delivered the first examples of its latest 450-Wh/kg, 1150-Wh/L high-energy-density lithium-ion cells. Compared with commonly available 300-Wh/kg batteries, the new cells, which use the U.S. company’s Si-Nanowire anode technology, represent a further improvement on the 405-Wh/kg product unveiled as recently as last November. 
The first of the cells went to a company that makes high-altitude pseudo satellites. Amprius COO Jon Bornstein said that the increased performance will support aerospace products with higher power needs, including new eVTOL aircraft, for which the batteries could extend flight endurance as power will not deplete so quickly during takeoff. He said that the company expects to produce the first 500-Wh/kg cells later this year.
The keys to the improved technology are the silicon-based anodes and the vertically&nbsp;orientated nanowires used by Amprius. “Traditional electrodes have particles that have to interact, but we have a straight path that means lower resistance and higher power,” Bornstein explained to FutureFlight. That, plus the strong material capacity of silicon has resulted in a tenfold improvement over graphite-based anodes.
In December 2021, Amprius Technologies announced a breakthrough in battery charging rates, with a 0 to 80 percent charge rate for its cells in just six minutes. It is working to achieve mass-production rates for its cells of hundreds of megawatt-hours per year and expects to initiate a major ramp-up in 2024.
According to&nbsp;Bornstein,&nbsp;Amprius is developing cells for&nbsp;drone delivery applications. Other possible applications for improved batteries could include uncrewed air systems for military operations.
“This could be a game-changer for eVTOL aircraft,” Bornstein declared, arguing that battery-electric propulsion is the most viable solution for most eVTOL aircraft intended for urban air mobility services carrying up to six passengers.
Amprius already has a development contract with an undisclosed leading aerospace group that is working on an all-electric eVTOL air taxi vehicle. It has previously provided batteries for the Zephyr solar-powered drone developed by Airbus, which has invested in the company.
&nbsp;

Amprius Raises Energy Density Stakes with 450 Wh/kg Battery

Amprius Technologies has announced what it describes as a breakthrough in battery charging rates that could significantly boost the performance of electric vehicles, including eVTOL models. The U.S.-based start-up says that using its proprietary Si-Nanowire anode platform, it achieved a 0 to 80 percent charge rate for silicon anode Lithium-Ion battery cells in just six minutes.
The company says the result of the trial has been independently verified by Mobile Power Solutions and meets the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium’s goal of achieving an 80 percent charge in less than 15 minutes by 2025. It claims that an unnamed Fortune 100 company is now evaluating the Si-Nanowire technology.
Amprius, which is already providing battery cells for several drone applications, intends to offer the technology to companies developing larger electric aircraft. It is moving to achieve mass production rates for its cells of hundreds of megawatt-hours per year and expects to initiate a major ramp-up in 2024.
“These results confirm the significant benefits of our Si-Nanowire anode for electric vehicle applications, where fast charge and high&nbsp;energy density are essential,” said Amprius’s chief operating officer, Jon Bornstein. “The need to shorten charge times extends well beyond the rapidly growing electric vehicle market and into broader electric mobility markets, including micro-mobility and aviation.”
According to Amprius, its battery cell has a specific energy of 370 Wh/kg and supports applications that need very high sustained power. The fast charge capability is already available for some in-production cells, including those being used for power-intensive drone applications.
In October,&nbsp;ABB E-mobility announced plans to develop&nbsp;MegaWatt-class fast-charging equipment for Lilium’s seven-seat eVTOL aircraft. The Switzerland-based power and automation specialist will provide the infrastructure in time to support its planned launch of commercial flights of up to 155 miles in Florida, Germany, and Brazil in 2024.
The charging points are intended to be capable of fully recharging batteries in around 30 minutes, or charging up to 80 percent in 15 minutes. The German manufacturer says this will allow each of its Lilium Jets to make between 20 and 25 daily flights across its planned network of vertiports.

Amprius

News

Amprius Boosts U.S. Battery Production as Drone Market Surges

Amprius Launches Higher-energy ‘SiCore’ Batteries for Aircraft

Amprius Inks $15 Million Battery Deal with Drone Maker

Amprius Says 'SiCore' Batteries Will Boost eVTOL Aircraft Performance

Battery Maker Amprius Secures Orders from Three Electric Aircraft Developers

Amprius Declares a Breakthrough in Aviation Battery Technology

BAE Systems Taps Battery Maker Amprius for Electric Aviation and Defense Applications

Battery Supplier Amprius To Boost Electric Mobility Ambitions with Equity Flotation

Amprius Raises Energy Density Stakes with 450 Wh/kg Battery

Amprius Claims Game-changing Battery Recharge Rate

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