This small-but-powerful new battery could be a leap forward for energy storage

Batteries are getting a silicon makeover that could reshape the way we approach electricity and energy consumption.

On Wednesday, California startup Sila Nanotechnologies, which has raised over $880 million since its founding in 2011, unveiled a battery it claims is more powerful than existing batteries, without compromising on life cycle and safety.

So what? Batteries power much of the technology we use today. And as battery-based fuel and energy sources like solar panels, electric vehicles, and wind turbines become even more prevalent, more efficient and powerful batteries will be essential.

How it works: Sila makes its batteries from next-gen “silicon anode material,” which replaces the graphite in the lithium-ion batteries used in most technology today. That allows more lithium atoms to get packed into the battery, increasing efficiency.

Sila’s battery will make its real-world debut in Boston startup Whoop’s 4.0 fitness tracker, a Fitbit competitor that has a host of activity-tracking features, from sleep patterns to heart rates and skin-temperature sensors. Whoop has raised ~$405 million since it was founded in 2012.

• The tiny battery will deliver 20% more power density compared with Whoop’s previous models, meaning Whoop's new device can be up to 33% smaller while achieving the same five-day battery life.

Big picture: Sila’s partnership with Whoop is an effort to start out small before transitioning into bigger applications like smartphones, electric vehicles, and renewable energy. Sila expects its batteries to make their way into cars by 2025, which it hopes can lower the price of electric vehicles and extend their range.—JM