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Amprius will supply cells for AALTO’s solar-powered stratospheric drones

April 18, 2024

Amprius Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, has announced purchase orders from AALTO HAPS for the company’s 450 Wh/kg ultra-high-energy density SiMaxxTM cells.

The SiMaxx cells are capable of operating in extreme flight conditions, maximizing flight range and payload capacity. These cells are currently the only commercially available batteries that can provide sufficient endurance for persistent High-Altitude Platform Stations (HAPS) overnight stratospheric flight operations in all seasons or at higher latitudes. This is a significant factor for AALTO, as Zephyr is the only fixed-wing HAPS to have demonstrated day and night longevity in the stratosphere.

In 2022, the collaboration between AALTO and Amprius achieved a milestone with a record-breaking 64-day cross-continental test flight of a Zephyr 8/S. During the event, Amprius’ 400 Wh/kg high-energy cells powered the flight without descending from the stratosphere, allowing AALTO to break its own previous record of more than 25 days.

Amprius’ SiMaxx cells are equipped to operate in challenging environments and the company mentioned they are suited for aviation and military applications. Amprius began fulfilling shipments against the new AALTO purchase orders in Q1 of 2024 and expects to continue fulfilling shipments in the coming months as the company advances its efforts to increase its SiMaxx production capacity in Fremont, CA.

Dr. Kang Sun, CEO of Amprius Technologies, said, “Amprius is at the forefront of enabling electric flight with our high-energy density cells designed to improve aircraft range while reducing weight. AALTO is one of Amprius’ long-standing customers, and we look forward to continuing to support its world record high-altitude pseudo satellite missions with our high-energy density cells.”