US firms new silicon anode EV battery charges 90% in 15 minutes [Video]

A new electric vehicle (EV) battery developed by California-based Amprius Technologies sports a silicon anode and can reach a 90 percent state-of-charge in 15 minutes.

The company has shipped its A sample cells to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC), a collaboration between US-based automakers for improving EV battery technology, a company press release said. 

The increased charge-holding capacities of EV batteries have removed range anxiety from potential owners’ concerns. However, the higher capacities have raised concerns about the high charging times required to prepare the batteries for the long haul. 

To overcome these concerns, EV makers are reducing charging times to those similar to fueling a gas-powered car. Since lithium-ion batteries take longer to reach an 80-100 percent state of charge than the time required for 10-80 percent, the aim has been to achieve the latter in under 15 minutes. 

Amprius Technology, which has previously delivered quick-charging batterypacks for the aviation and light vehicle …