Amprius Technologies, Inc.,a leader in advanced lithium-ion battery solutions for unmanned systems,has been chosen by the U.S. Army to create a large-scale 500 Wh/kg SiMaxx™ high-energy cell aimed at enhancing electric mobility within the defense industry.
The company has been awarded the xTechPrime grant, which includes a $1.9 million contract to be utilized over the next 18 months for the growth of the large-scale prototype of the 500 Wh/kg SiMaxx cell.
This innovative 500 Wh/kg, 1300 Wh/L SiMaxx cell has been validated by Mobile Power Solutions and offers nearly double the energy capacity compared to conventional battery cells.
The xTechPrime Competition,which took place from April to June,invited small businesses to collaborate with technology integrators to propose cutting-edge solutions that align with the U.S. Army’s modernization initiatives.
In this endeavor, Amprius teamed up with AeroVironment (AV), serving as the technology integrator for AV’s high-altitude pseudo-satellite (HAPS) project, which competed in the Autonomy Technology Ecosystem category.
AV has a long history of developing solar-powered stratospheric platforms,with their latest iteration of HAPS designed for a government client.
Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius, stated, “Our success in this competition not only highlights our ongoing partnership with the Department of Defense through our tenth collaborative program but also positions us to transform military applications with our innovative 500 wh/kg SiMaxx cell.
“The interest we’ve garnered from various national defense clients emphasizes the demand for our next-generation battery technologies. we are privileged to be selected for the U.S.Army xTechPrime contract and are eager to deliver the advanced battery solutions necessary to considerably enhance mission duration and range for essential military operations.”
dex Halpin, Vice President and general Manager of AV’s HAPS division, remarked, “The energy density of Amprius’ 500 Wh/kg SiMaxx cell is crucial for achieving our extensive submission goals within the solar HAPS performance framework.
“Our collaboration with Amprius enables AV to deploy our solar stratospheric platforms with unmatched payload capabilities in their category: a 150 lb mass and 1500W continuous power. The proven efficacy of the SiMaxx cell reassures us that our partnership with Amprius will enhance the performance and payload potential of our solar platforms for both government and commercial clients.”
