General Motors and Mercedes‑Benz Test Silicon Anode Batteries as US Researchers Make Synthetic Graphite from PET

General Motors and Mercedes‑Benz are trialing silicon‑anode battery cells in real‑world electric vehicles. The new cells replace part of the graphite anode with silicon, promising up to ten times more energy storage, longer driving ranges—up to 900 km on a charge—and charging times as short as 11 minutes for an 80 % charge. Production lines for the silicon‑anode batteries have already started, and GM vice‑president Kurt Kelty said the technology will see increasing use in the short to medium term, reducing reliance on graphite, which is largely controlled by China.

Separately, scientists at Pennsylvania State University have developed a method to produce synthetic graphite from recycled PET plastic bottles. The resulting material shows a homogeneous structure and outperforms natural graphite in laboratory tests, offering a potentially greener and more locally sourced feedstock for lithium‑ion battery anodes. The breakthrough could lessen demand for mined graphite and improve recycling of plastic waste.

Both developments aim to address key challenges for electric‑vehicle batteries: higher energy density, faster charging, and more sustainable, diversified material supplies.