Blue Current, a Hayward, California-based developer of silicon solid-state batteries, has raised more than $80 million in a Series D extension round anchored by Amazon. The fresh capital marks a major step in the company’s transition from years of research and development to large-scale commercialization. The funding comes as demand accelerates for safer, higher-performing energy storage solutions across both mobility and stationary applications.
Details of the Series D Extension
The new round is led by Amazon, with additional participation from Koch Disruptive Technologies, Piedmont Capital, Rusheen Capital Partners, and Allen & Company. Blue Current plans to use the proceeds to scale production of its silicon composite solid-state battery platform and to support pilot deployments with customers in automotive and grid-scale storage. The extension builds on previous financing and underscores growing investor conviction that solid-state batteries are nearing commercial readiness.
Advancing a Silicon Solid-State Battery Platform
Blue Current’s technology has been engineered from first principles to address several of the toughest challenges in battery design, including energy density, charge speed, and safety. Its cells use earth-abundant silicon and elastic polymer anodes, combined with fully dry electrolytes that can be tuned for both mobility and stationary storage systems. Because the platform can be manufactured using existing lithium-ion production equipment, it is designed to scale quickly while keeping costs competitive.
Focus on Safety and Performance
Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on flammable liquid electrolytes, Blue Current’s solid-state architecture is intended to be inherently safer and more thermally stable. The company says its design reduces fire risk while also targeting improvements in cycle life, charging rates, and operating conditions, including performance at low pressure. Management believes this safety-first approach gives the company an edge in applications where reliability and risk mitigation are critical, such as electric vehicles and long-duration storage.
Strategic Importance for Mobility and Stationary Storage
CEO Susan Stone emphasizes that the company’s goal is to unlock domestic manufacturing capacity for next-generation batteries while meeting the specific needs of mobility and stationary storage customers. She notes that the commercialization phase is expected to enable multiple high-value use cases, ranging from longer-range electric vehicles to more resilient grid infrastructure. By delivering a de-risked path to market, Blue Current aims to shorten the timeline for bringing solid-state batteries into mainstream deployment.
Long-Term R&D Foundation and Market Timing
Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Kevin Wujcik highlights that Blue Current’s latest progress is built on more than a decade of focused research and engineering. The company’s decision to center its architecture on silicon was driven by the desire to improve energy density and charging performance while maintaining stringent safety standards. With new capital from Amazon and the continued backing of Koch Disruptive Technologies and other investors, Blue Current is preparing to move from lab-scale demonstrations to broader commercial programs.
Amazon’s Strategic Interest and Board Appointment
For Amazon, the investment reflects a broader push to support technologies that can enhance energy reliability and sustainability across its operations and the wider economy. James Hamilton, Senior Vice President and Distinguished Engineer at Amazon, is joining Blue Current’s board, where he will help guide strategy as the company scales. He has pointed out that turning breakthrough science into affordable, deployable products is essential if solid-state batteries are to meet rising demand for stationary storage and electric vehicles with faster charging and longer range.
Blue Current’s Series D extension positions the company as a key player in the emerging solid-state battery market, with a platform aimed at combining safety, performance, and manufacturability. Backed by a syndicate of strategic and financial investors, and supported by a veteran industry engineer on its board, the company is entering a pivotal scaling phase. As the energy transition accelerates, Blue Current is betting that its silicon-based solid-state design can help define the next generation of batteries for both mobility and stationary storage.