Berdichevsky would not comment on how much production capacity would increase, but did say that the company\u2019s battery materials would find their way into consumer devices before the end of 2020. That means the potential for longer-lasting batteries in smart watches, earbuds and health trackers, initially.<\/p>\n
From its headquarters in Alameda, Calif., Sila Nanotechnologies has developed a silicon-based anode to replace graphite in lithium-ion batteries. The company claims that its materials can improve the energy density of batteries by 20 percent.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you can increase energy density by 20 percent\u2026 you can use 20 percent fewer cells and each pack can cost 20 percent less,\u201d says Berdichevsky. \u201cThe subtext of it is that it is the way to drive price of energy storage down. And that\u2019s the way for the electric vehicle market to sand more and more on its own.\u201d<\/p>\n
That kind of cost reduction is what brought BMW and Daimler to partner with the company \u2014 and what led to the massive funding round and the company\u2019s newfound unicorn status.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur valuation is over $1 billion dollars now,\u201d Berdichevsky says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Image courtesy of Sila Nanotechnologies<\/p>\n For Daimler, the materials that Sila Nanotechnologies are developing will give the company\u2019s commitment to electrification a much needed boost.<\/p>\n Mercedes-Benz has plans to electrify its entire product suite by 2022, the company has said. That means Daimler has to accelerate its production of electrified alternatives to its fuel-powered fleet \u2014 everything from its 48-volt electrical system (the EQ Boost), to its plug-in hybrids (EQ-Power) and the more than 10 fully electric vehicles powered by batteries or fuel cells. The company is projecting that between 15 percent and 25 percent of its total sales will be electric by 2025 \u2014 depending on customer preferences, infrastructure development and the regulatory environment in each of the markets in which it sells vehicles, the company said.<\/p>\n In all, Mercedes-Benz cars has committed to investing\u00a0\u20ac10 billion ($11.3 billion) in the production of vehicles and another $1.3 billion into a global battery production network.\u00a0The global battery production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars will in the future consist of nine factories on three continents.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are on our way to a carbon free future mobility. While our all-new EQC model enters the markets this year we are already preparing the way for the next generation of powerful battery electric vehicles,\u201d said Sajjad Khan, executive vice president for Connected, <\/a> Autonomous, Shared Electric Mobility, Daimler<\/span> AG in a statement.<\/p>\n Still, consumers shouldn\u2019t expect to see vehicles with Sila Nano\u2019s technology until at least the mid 2020s, as automakers look to prove that the company\u2019s battery technology meets their quality assurance standards. \u201cThe qualification time means there\u2019s many years of work to make sure it is reliable for next 10 to 20 years,\u201d says Berdichevsky. \u201c<\/span>Our partnership is geared towards mid-2020s production targets, but the qualification is something that takes quite a while.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Sila](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.wordpressdynamos.com\/timesofnewscdn\/blog\/53fa8_Screen-Shot-2019-04-16-at-2.59.38-PM.png?resize=640%2C434&ssl=1\")
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