Bucking EV slowdown, Sila raises $300M to expand battery materials factory
Bucking EV slowdown, Sila raises $300M to expand battery materials factory
逆势扩张：Sila 融资 3 亿美元扩建电池材料工厂
Battery materials startup Sila announced Tuesday that it raised $300 million to expand its factory in Washington State to produce enough anode material for more than 100,000 EVs. 电池材料初创公司 Sila 周二宣布，已筹集 3 亿美元用于扩建其位于华盛顿州的工厂，以生产足以供应超过 10 万辆电动汽车所需的负极材料。
Sila’s expansion arrives as electric vehicle demand in the U.S. has softened in the wake of the Trump administration’s efforts to hamstring the propulsion technology. While sales remain depressed in the U.S., down this year relative to 2025 when demand spiked before the sunset of tax credits, EVs are taking a bigger slice of the market elsewhere. According to Benchmark Minerals Intelligence, global sales are up 27% year over year. Sila 的此次扩张正值美国电动汽车需求因特朗普政府试图限制该动力技术而走软之际。尽管美国市场销量依然低迷（相较于税收抵免到期前需求激增的 2025 年有所下降），但电动汽车在其他地区的市场份额正在扩大。据 Benchmark Minerals Intelligence 数据显示，全球销量同比增长了 27%。
Sila previously announced deals to supply its anode material to Mercedes and Panasonic. It also sells to consumer electronics companies such as Whoop as well as drone manufacturers, and satellite companies. Sila 此前已宣布与梅赛德斯（Mercedes）和松下（Panasonic）达成协议，为其供应负极材料。此外，该公司还向 Whoop 等消费电子公司以及无人机制造商和卫星公司供货。
Most lithium-ion batteries today using graphite anodes, and Chinese companies control about three-quarters of the supply chain, according to Benchmark Minerals Intelligence. That has spurred automakers outside of China to search for alternatives that aren’t subject to tariffs. Sila’s anode material is one of the few alternatives that’s available in sufficient quantity. 据 Benchmark Minerals Intelligence 统计，目前大多数锂离子电池使用石墨负极，而中国企业控制了约四分之三的供应链。这促使中国以外的汽车制造商寻求不受关税影响的替代方案。Sila 的负极材料是少数能够实现足量供应的替代品之一。
In addition to being an alternative to Chinese graphite, Sila’s anode material can store up to 40% more energy than traditional graphite anodes. It can also charge faster. Sila has been developing the material for the last 15 years. Its founder and CEO, Gene Berdichevsky, previously worked at Tesla, where he was the seventh employee. 除了作为中国石墨的替代品外，Sila 的负极材料比传统石墨负极多储存高达 40% 的能量，且充电速度更快。Sila 在过去 15 年里一直致力于研发该材料。其创始人兼首席执行官 Gene Berdichevsky 曾是特斯拉的第七名员工。
The startup began production at its Moses Lake, Washington plant in September. The factory is capable of making up to 2 gigawatt-hours of silicon-carbon anode material. The expansion will allow the plant to produce tens of gigawatt-hours per year, enough to power more than 100,000 EVs. 该初创公司于 9 月在其位于华盛顿州摩西湖（Moses Lake）的工厂开始生产。该工厂目前具备每年生产 2 吉瓦时（GWh）硅碳负极材料的能力。此次扩建将使该工厂的年产能达到数十吉瓦时，足以支持超过 10 万辆电动汽车的动力需求。
While EVs are the biggest user of lithium-ion batteries, energy storage systems have been taking a bigger piece of the market as demand for electricity grows. AI data centers have become a major buyers of grid-scale batteries. The packs can serve as backup power sources, help trim peak demand charges, and allow for around-the-clock use of solar and wind power. 虽然电动汽车是锂离子电池的最大用户，但随着电力需求的增长，储能系统在市场中所占份额也在不断增加。人工智能数据中心已成为电网级电池的主要买家。这些电池组可用作备用电源，帮助削减高峰需求费用，并实现太阳能和风能的全天候利用。
The new 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. Sila previously raised about $1.3 billion across previous rounds, according to PitchBook. 本轮融资由 Atreides Management 和 Sutter Hill Ventures 领投，8VC、Bessemer Venture Partners、Matrix Partners 以及由 T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. 提供咨询的基金和账户参与投资。据 PitchBook 数据显示，Sila 此前已通过多轮融资筹集了约 13 亿美元。