Ex-Tesla engineer aims to build next-generation battery materials in U.S.

A battery startup founded by a former Tesla (TSLA.O) engineer announced on Tuesday plans for U.S.-based mass production of next-generation materials aimed at cutting costs and reducing the industry's reliance on China.

Sila Nanotechnologies will invest in the low hundreds of millions of dollars in a new plant in Washington state due to open in 2024, Sila CEO Gene Berdichevsky told Reuters.

Berdichevsky said Sila would use the new plant in the city of Moses Lake to make silicon-based anode materials that can store 20% more energy than anodes that typically use graphite, 70% of which comes from China.