Suddenly, three battery makers have announced silicon-based 500 kilowatt-hour batteries, a major leap forward for possible use in electric aircraft. The three use varied techniques to achieve this significant energy increase. Amprius We covered Amprius’ new battery on March 28, noting its successful record-breaking flights in AALTO’s Zephyr HAPS (High Altitude Pseudo Satellite) aircraft. This frail-looking but obviously over-achieving machine has loitered over the desert of New Mexico and beyond for over 64 days and nights, powered by a combination of sunlight and Amprius batteries. The batteries in particular just keep getting better. That record was set with the last generation of Amprius cells, but future flights will benefit from the verified performance of their new 500 kilowatts per kilogram batteries. Mobile Power Solutions performed such tests, showing results of >504 Wh/kg and >1321 Wh/l at 25°C. Pierre-Antoine Aubourg, Chief Technical Officer at AALTO HAPS, looks ahead. “We look forward to taking advantage of Amprius’ 500 Wh/kg cell to further …