SiCore silicon-anode lithium-ion battery-cell family

SiCore is a family of silicon-anode lithium-ion battery cells from Amprius Technologies, supplied at cell level as a high-energy-density battery for drones, electric aircraft and other weight-sensitive electric systems. The silicon anode is aimed at storing more energy per kilogram, so the cells suit applications where flight time or payload is limited by pack mass.

The family is offered in three designs, each tuned to a different duty profile. The Power design is made for high discharge rates, the Energy design for maximum endurance at low rates, and the Balanced Energy/Power design sits between the two. Choosing among them is the main selection step for an integrator: a multirotor that needs burst power for take-off and climb leans toward the Power design, while a fixed-wing or long-endurance platform that cruises at low load benefits from the Energy design.

The maker lists the following figures. The Power design delivers 390 Wh/kg and 860 Wh/L, with a maximum discharge rate of 10C continuous and 20C pulse, a maximum charge rate of 10C, and a cycle life of 200 cycles at 100% depth of discharge (charge at 1C, discharge at 3C) or 500 cycles at 70% depth of discharge. The Energy design reaches 450 Wh/kg and 1,000 Wh/L, with 1C continuous and 2C pulse discharge, a maximum charge rate of C/2, and 300 cycles at 100% depth of discharge or 700 cycles at 70% depth of discharge, both at 0.3C charge and 1C discharge. The Balanced Energy/Power design provides 340 Wh/kg and 770 Wh/L, with 3C continuous and 5C pulse discharge, and 700 cycles at 100% depth of discharge or 1,000 cycles at 90% depth of discharge, both at 1C charge and 1C discharge.

In practice, the gravimetric figure sets how much energy a pack of a given mass can carry, while the volumetric figure matters when the battery bay is fixed. The continuous and pulse C-rates define how much current a pack can supply to motors, and the cycle-life figures depend on the depth of discharge and charge rate used, so a duty cycle with shallower discharge extends service life. Pack designers should size the number of cells in parallel against the peak current of the propulsion system and the C-rate of the chosen design.

SiCore is a cell-level product, so the battery management system, cell balancing, thermal management, mechanical packaging and connectors belong to the pack builder or to the integrator. Cell-level supply gives developers of drone and eVTOL battery packs the freedom to configure voltage and capacity around their own platform.

Amprius presents the family for unmanned aviation, where higher energy density translates into longer flights or heavier payloads at the same take-off mass, and for manned aviation, light electric vehicles, electric vehicles, and AI and robotics systems that need compact energy storage. For drone and eVTOL programmes, the cells are typically evaluated for long-endurance multirotors, fixed-wing UAS and electric aircraft propulsion packs.