Hybrid Vehicles and Silicon Batteries: Key to Broader EV Adoption?

With demand for electric vehicles (EVs) turning sluggish, one industry expert points to hybrid vehicles as the catalyst that can spark more public adoption of EVs.

And silicon batteries with “lightning quick” charge times are emerging as “the next standard for energy storage.” They can drive short-term hybrid demand enroute to full electrification, asserted Grant Ray, head of global strategy at battery material maker Group14 of Woodinville, WA.

The timeline for broader EV adoption “could accelerate as more EV manufacturers speed adoption of silicon batteries,” Ray said. “When you can get an EV to nearly full charge in 10 minutes or less (with silicon battery material), it removes one of the major barriers to adoption and could lead to a more rapid phase-out of both conventional gas vehicles and hybrids.”

By year’s end, Group14 plans to open what it expects to be the world’s largest silicon battery materials factory—BAM-2 in Moses Lake, WA—which will produce the company’s SCC55 material. (Note: 'SCC55' is a registered trademark of Group14.)

Group14's Battery Active Materials (BAM-2) factory in Moses Lake, WA. GROUP14

Global perspective

The path to broad EV adoption hinges on the strength of a global supply chain, Ray explained.

“The transition to electric vehicles is a global phenomenon. We’re actively engaged with customers worldwide, delivering our advanced silicon battery materials to over 100 customers representing 95% of global lithium-ion battery production.”

Group14’s modular manufacturing approach lets the company set up production facilities quickly around the world, he said. “We are able to serve global markets while also helping OEMs and battery manufacturers meet their needs for localized supply chains.”

Employees inside Group14 headquarters (BAM-1) in Woodinville, WA. GROUP14

With global demand for its silicon battery materials growing, Group14 has expanded its presence in Europe by acquiring a silane factory in Germany. The purchase secures a source of critical materials in another key EV market while the company’s customer base from North America to Europe to Asia “has forecasted demand for SCC55 that is more than four times the company’s projected production capacity by 2027.”

The role of silicon

Silicon is emerging as the next standard for EV energy storage, Ray said, due to its advantages over traditional materials and its ready accessibility. Silicon has 10 times the capacity of graphite, which enables up to 50% greater energy density—allowing for longer range. It also facilitates extremely fast charging.

For instance, Group14’s SCC55 technology enables zero-to-80% charging in under 10 minutes. The material is already commercialized and can be produced at scale now, which “directly addresses graphite supply chain shortages and enables more localized battery production.” Further, the material is drop-in-ready, so manufacturers can use it without significant changes to their processes.

“Lightning-quick charge time completely changes the equation for EV adoption by eliminating range anxiety,” Ray enthused. “When you can charge an EV as quickly as filling up a gas tank, the most significant barrier to widespread EV adoption is removed. Fast charging also means that automakers could potentially use smaller battery packs while still meeting range needs – which may reduce costs and make EVs more affordable. Silicon anodes allow for much higher power output, boosting acceleration and performance.” 

Group14’s silicon battery technology enables up to 50% greater energy density compared to traditional graphite anodes, Ray said, which means EVs could potentially travel 50% farther on one charge without large, heavy batteries.

Modular manufacturing

To maintain a trajectory toward mass EV adoption, production processes must keep pace with the evolution of material technology. The ability to scale production to meet expected demand is critical.

“Our manufacturing process consists of two main steps: creating a carbon scaffold and exposing that scaffold to silane for silicon deposition – making it easier to scale up production compared to other, more complex manufacturing methods,” Ray noted. Group14’s modular manufacturing approach “allows us to quickly set up production facilities anywhere in the world and begin producing and delivering SCC55 at the same time we are constructing additional manufacturing modules.”

A Group14 employee at company headquarters (BAM-1) in Woodinville, WA. GROUP14

By locating production facilities near sources of materials like silane, “Group14 is already producing material at commercial scale. We can ship tons of material per month, which is what's required to really engage with major automakers and battery manufacturers. When the joint venture factory with SK Materials in South Korea is delivering material, Group14 is expected to be able to offer dual sourcing capabilities to our customers.”

For 2025, Group14 expects to ramp up to 30 gigawatt hours (GWh) of production capacity across multiple facilities globally, including:

The bigger picture

Evolving battery technology promises to reshape not just vehicle adoption, but design—and even urban planning.

Better battery technology “could drive a fundamental shift in how cities plan their energy grids, design transportation systems and approach urban development to accommodate the increase of electric mobility,” Ray said. “Higher energy density and faster charging may mean more efficient designs, which could completely change how charging infrastructure is integrated into urban environments – making EV charging similar to quick gas station stops.”

And the potential for smaller, more efficient batteries could inspire “lighter, more compact EVs, impacting urban parking and road design. Advancements could accelerate the electrification of public transportation and even enable more efficient electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, which has incredible potential to reshape urban air mobility.”

Group14's head of global strategy, Grant Ray GROUP14