Enovix is installing third-generation equipment at its 68,650 square-foot facility in Fremont, California to prepare for production of its advanced silicon-anode lithium-ion battery. The company expects to begin equipment qualification within the next few months, start production in Q3 2021, undertake customer facility qualification in Q4 2021, and realize revenue in Q1 2022.
“Production and commercialization are the milestones that distinguish a successful enterprise from aspirational claims, and Enovix is building the first advanced silicon-anode lithium-ion battery production facility in the U.S.” said Harrold Rust, Enovix co-founder and CEO. “We believe the batteries we produce will provide the energy density our customers need to continue mobile device innovation, and we’re creating jobs for people in our local community and throughout the Bay Area. We’ve added about 60 new people over the past year, and we expect to add about 60 more as we fully ramp our production through 2022.”
Enovix has designed, produced, and shipped an advanced silicon-anode lithium-ion battery that combines increased energy density and high cycle life. Its proprietary 3D cell architecture enables Enovix to use silicon as the only active lithium cycling material in the anode. The company has advanced battery development agreements with several category-leading mobile device companies.
The Enovix production process is designed to leverage much of the conventional lithium-ion battery manufacturing process. It includes the same electrode fabrication process and the vast majority of pouch packaging and formation, to which Enovix adds pre-lithiation.
The company has applied an innovative approach, developing proprietary production tools that are ‘drop-in’ replacements for the winding or cut-and-stack tools in conventional pouch lithium-ion battery cell assembly. Enovix has been awarded 89 patents and has over 50 more applications pending, reflecting its breakthroughs in both battery design and production.
Hordon Kim
International Editor, hordon@powerelectronics.co.kr
