Panasonic Energy Corporation has partnered with Sila to utilize Titan Silicon, a nanocomposite silicon negative electrode, to improve its lithium-ion batteries. Sila, known for introducing Titan Silicon in WHOOP 4.0, aims to replace traditional graphite anodes, offering higher energy density and reduced CO2 emissions. Panasonic will produce this anode material at its Moses Lake facility in Washington, which may qualify for tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act. By integrating Sila’s technology, Panasonic expects to boost the volumetric energy density of its batteries to 1000 Wh/L by 2030-2031, addressing key EV concerns such as range and charging times. Sila’s Titan Silicon could potentially increase EV range by 20% and is under development to double this improvement. Additionally, it could significantly shorten battery charging times to around 10 minutes
Comparison to Current Battery Density Status
As of the knowledge cutoff in early 2023, typical lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles have energy densities ranging from 250 to 700 Wh/L. Panasonic’s goal of achieving 1000 Wh/L by 2030-2031 with the integration of Titan Silicon represents a significant advancement in battery technology. The potential increase in energy density could lead to lighter, smaller batteries or longer-range vehicles without increasing the battery size. The current advancements in battery technology are also focusing on reducing charging times, which aligns with Sila’s aim to reduce the time to 10 minutes, a considerable improvement over the typical charging times of today’s EV batteries.
Panasonic Energy Corporation announced a partnership with Sila, gaining access to its Titan Silicon, a nanocomposite silicon negative electrode.
Source: Panasonic to make EV batteries with silicon anode material