Amprius Technologies, maker of the Silicon Anode Platform for lithium-ion batteries, is supplying battery cells to the Astrum solar car, which a team from the University of Michigan will race in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in October.

The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge requires teams to design, develop and pilot a solar-powered vehicle along a 3,000-kilometer transcontinental Australian route from Darwin to Adelaide.

California-based Amprius prides itself on the high energy density of its cells. The company’s commercially available batteries boast up to 450 Wh/kg and 1,150 Wh/L.

Amprius is also partnering with several other collegiate solar car teams that will be competing in this year’s Solar Challenge, including the Brunel Solar Team and Solar Team Twente, from the Netherlands; and the Innoptus Solar Team from Belgium.  

“As a company that was founded out of Stanford University, we are passionate about supporting collegiate STEM programs,” said Amprius CEO Dr. Kang Sun. “The Astrum car will be pushed to its limits during this 3,000-kilometer race. Our next-generation batteries were selected after a rigorous technical evaluation and will provide exceptional endurance and range in extreme conditions.”

Source: Amprius Technologies