en.Wedoany.com Reported - Battery materials company Sila announced it has secured $300 million in funding to expand its factory in Washington state, producing enough anode material to power over 100,000 electric vehicles.
Sila's expansion plans come as U.S. electric vehicle demand slows due to policy adjustments. According to data from Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, global EV sales grew 27% year-over-year, despite a decline in domestic U.S. sales compared to 2025.
Sila has previously signed supply agreements with Mercedes-Benz and Panasonic, and its products also supply consumer electronics companies like Whoop, as well as drone manufacturers and satellite companies. Currently, most lithium-ion batteries use graphite anodes, with Chinese companies controlling about three-quarters of the supply chain. This has prompted automakers outside of China to seek alternatives not subject to tariffs.
Sila's anode material is considered one of the few well-supplied alternatives. Compared to traditional graphite anodes, the material can store 40% more energy and charges faster. Sila has been developing this material over the past 15 years, and its founder and CEO, Gene Berdichevsky, previously worked at Tesla as its seventh employee.
The startup's factory in Moses Lake, Washington, began production in September, with an annual capacity of up to 2 gigawatt-hours of silicon-carbon anode material. After expansion, the factory's annual capacity will reach tens of gigawatt-hours, enough to support the production of over 100,000 electric vehicles.
Electric vehicles are the primary users of lithium-ion batteries, but the market share of energy storage systems is also growing. Artificial intelligence data centers have become major buyers of grid-scale batteries, which can be used for backup power, reducing peak demand charges, and supporting round-the-clock use of renewable energy.
This funding round was led by Atreides Management and Sutter Hill Ventures, with participation from 8VC, Bessemer Venture Partners, Matrix Partners, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. According to PitchBook data, Sila has previously raised approximately $1.3 billion through multiple funding rounds.
