Group14 lands $463M from SK, Porsche, and others to make silicon anodes for EVs

Group14, a battery materials startup specializing in silicon anode technology, has secured $463 million in a funding round led by battery manufacturer SK, with participation from Porsche, ATL, Lightrock, and Microsoft. This investment aims to expand Group14’s manufacturing capabilities and underscores continued investor confidence in the electric vehicle (EV) market, which is projected to grow over 15% annually and quintuple in size over the next decade. Group14 produces silicon anode materials that significantly enhance lithium-ion battery storage capacity, addressing the limitations of traditional graphite anodes. Silicon is considered a promising alternative to graphite because it can hold up to ten times more electrons, potentially increasing battery energy density by up to 50% and reducing fast-charging times to under 10 minutes. However, silicon anodes typically suffer from structural degradation due to expansion and contraction during charge cycles. Group14 overcomes this challenge by engineering a scaffold material with internal voids that accommodate silicon’s expansion, maintaining anode integrity. This