The Defense Department has committed a $1.4 billion conditional loan to Sila, a US-based battery technology startup, to support expansion of its silicon anode production capabilities. The company, co-founded in 2011 by former Tesla battery specialist Gene Berdichevsky, has developed a proprietary silicon-carbon powder that can replace graphite in battery anodes, potentially improving performance across multiple applications.
Sila’s silicon anode technology offers significant performance advantages over traditional lithium-ion formulas. The company’s “Titan Silicon” powder can increase electric vehicle range by up to 20 percent in the same-sized battery pack while enabling fast charging in approximately 10 minutes. While the company initially focused on commercial electric vehicles, the Defense Department’s interest centers on applications requiring high-performance energy storage, including military drones, ground robots, and autonomous vehicles.
The conditional loan will fund expansion of Sila’s existing manufacturing facility in Moses Lake, Washington State. Part of the funding will increase production of Titan Silicon powder, while the remainder will support construction of a new lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing operation. When operations began at the facility in 2025, Sila designated it as the first “automotive-scale silicon anode plant” in the US.
Sila has secured substantial support from multiple sources beyond the Defense Department loan. In 2024, the company completed Series G funding at $375 million, followed by an additional $300 million raised in June. The Department of Energy previously awarded $10 million in research and development funding in 2021 and an additional $100 million in 2022 through its ARPA-E programs to support mass production development.
The Moses Lake facility operates on 160 acres with initial startup capacity of 2 gigawatt-hours, with potential expansion to 250 gigawatt-hours over a five-year period. Sila has indicated the facility could supply anode material for 500,000 electric vehicles while also serving smartphone and other electronics applications. The company continues supply chain engagement activities with cell manufacturers and original equipment makers worldwide.
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