Amprius and Matternet Partner to Bring Silicon Anode Batteries to Drone Delivery
May 19, 2026 – 1:30 pm
Image by: Matternet
TL;DR:
Amprius Technologies, the Fremont-based maker of high-energy-density silicon anode batteries, has announced a partnership with Matternet, one of the few drone delivery companies to hold both FAA Type Certification and Production Certification. The collaboration will see Amprius supply its SiCore® lithium-ion cells for Matternet’s autonomous delivery drones, aiming to extend flight range, increase payload capacity, and speed up charging turnaround.
Amprius Technologies, has partnered with Matternet to supply silicon anode batteries for drone delivery operations. The deal pairs Amprius’s high-energy-density SiCore cells, which deliver up to 450 Wh/kg, with Matternet’s FAA-certified autonomous delivery drones.
The partnership addresses a key constraint in autonomous aerial logistics: battery performance. Silicon anodes offer significantly higher energy density than traditional graphite anodes, enabling longer flight times and heavier payloads. Amprius’s SiCore cells deliver up to 450 Wh/kg (and as high as 500 Wh/kg) while supporting fast charging down to roughly six minutes to 80% capacity.
Why silicon anodes matter for drone delivery:
Conventional lithium-ion drone batteries rely on graphite anodes, limiting energy density and flight range. Silicon can store ten times more lithium ions than graphite, leading to lighter battery packs, longer flight times, and heavier permissible cargo.
Amprius’s SiCore cells offer these benefits along with high discharge rates for the required burst power during takeoff and rapid charging.
Matternet’s expanding logistics ambitions:
Matternet has built one of the most operationally mature drone delivery networks globally, holding the first FAA Type Certification for a drone delivery system. It has completed tens of thousands of commercial flights transporting medical samples, pharmaceuticals, and retail goods.