Enovix Selected by U.S. Department of Energy for Fiscal Year 2020 Advanced Vehicle Technologies Research Funding
FREMONT, Calif., Aug. 26, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette has announced FY2020 federal funding for projects that will support new and innovative advanced vehicle technologies. Enovix Corporation has been selected to advance research and development on lithium-ion batteries using silicon-based anodes. The selection, recommended by the Vehicle Technologies Office, authorizes Enovix to complete negotiations for a $3.2 million federal award funded through the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). The project is designed to conduct research in advanced batteries and manufacturing in support of DOE's Energy Storage Grand Challenge--a comprehensive strategy to create and sustain U.S. global leadership in energy storage technology, utilization and exports.
Enovix CEO and co-founder, Harrold Rust, said, "We are pleased with our selection by DOE and excited to advance our patented silicon-anode technology to lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. This is an important step in our business model to commercialize our 3D Silicon(TM) Lithium-ion Battery in the portable electronics market next year while we simultaneously develop high-performance, low-cost cells for the EV market. And it is part of our overall strategy to help revitalize lithium-ion battery production in the U.S."
The Enovix project, "Structurally and Electrochemically Stabilized Silicon-rich Anodes for Electric Vehicle (EV) Applications," proposes to achieve energy density over 350 Wh/kg, greater than 1,000 cycle life and 10-year calendar life with a greater than 95% active silicon anode using a combination of Enovix patented 3D cell architecture and optimized electrolyte chemistry. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, a global leader in formulated electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a leading research institution accelerating energy-efficient solutions, have agreed to support Enovix with the project. Mitsubishi will work with Enovix to optimize electrolyte chemistry, and NREL will collaborate and provide silicon-anode modeling with emphasis on chemistry aspects of interface between the electrolyte and silicon anode.
Enovix demonstrated 100% active silicon-anode lithium-ion cells with energy density over 900 Wh/l and full-depth of discharge cycle life over 500 in 2019. In March 2020, the company announced that it had secured $45 million in new funds to produce and commercialize its 3D Silicon(TM) Lithium-ion Battery, and that it had agreements with four category leading customers to develop and produce silicon-anode lithium-ion batteries for portable electronic devices. The production facility is presently under construction at company headquarters in Fremont, California. Enovix expects to complete construction and begin commercial deliveries to customers in 2021. The company's business strategy initially targets portable electronics market commercialization, where increased energy density commands a premium price, in order to generate profitable growth while the company focuses on development of its patented silicon-anode cell technology for the electric vehicle market.
About Enovix
Enovix has developed a lithium-ion battery that incorporates a 100% active silicon anode using its patented 3D cell architecture to significantly increase energy density and maintain high cycle life. The company is backed by strategic relationships with Intel, Qualcomm and Cypress and over $200 million in venture, strategic and private funding. It has been awarded over 75 patents and has over 45 applications pending to create sustainable enterprise value and provide a competitive barrier for years to come. For more information, go to www.enovix.com.
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SOURCE Enovix Corporation
