Knocking a home run out of the park with the bases loaded is the dream of any big leaguer. Certainly, Sila in Moses Lake can claim big league status, closing on a $375 million deal to complete their silicon production site in Eastern Washington.
The company broke ground on the facility last November. As the plant moves toward completion and full production next year, Sila plans to produce enough of its Titan Silicon anode material to power more than a million cars. This next-gen material can increase a battery’s energy density by 20% or more compared to traditional graphite batteries.
With this latest round of investment, the startup has raised more than $1.3 billion from investors and $100 million from the Department of Energy.
Moses Lake could claim to have hit its own home run, becoming a hotbed for new battery materials and manufacturing. Group 14 Technologies and OneD Battery Sciences are also located in this growing high-tech community. All three are focused on producing silicon-enhanced formulations that increase battery performance and reduce charge times.
“To transform the world and meet consumer expectations, the industry needs to take the next big step on battery performance and charging speeds. With Sila, automakers can deliver next-generation EVs that will win over those who expect more from their electric experience,” said Gene Berdichevsky, Sila co-founder and CEO.
Sila plans to manufacture Titan Silicon for Mercedes-Benz, Panasonic and three unnamed customers at its Moses Lake facility.