HPQ Silicon Inc. (TSX-V: HPQ, OTCQB: HPQFF) has signed a Cell Evaluation and Confidentiality Agreement with Aptera Motors Corp. (NASDAQ: SEV) to test HPQ's ENDURA+ high-capacity 21700 lithium-ion battery cells in an electric vehicle application, according to a press release from the Montreal-based company.

Under the agreement, Aptera will conduct laboratory testing of HPQ ENDURA+ cells, which are based on silicon-based anode materials developed by HPQ's French technology partner Novacium SAS. HPQ holds a 36.8% equity interest in Novacium and holds exclusive North American commercialization rights to its technology.

Aptera is a U.S. solar electric vehicle developer that has received an EPA Certificate of Conformity for its 2026 Launch Edition and announced a manufacturing partnership with Launch Design.

The agreement does not constitute a commercial supply commitment. If evaluation results support continued discussions, the parties may consider subsequent technical, qualification, and commercial steps.

"This agreement represents exactly the kind of progression we have been working toward with HPQ ENDURA+," said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO of HPQ Silicon. "We have focused on moving our technology from advanced materials to high-performance cells, and ultimately into application-level evaluation, where its performance can be assessed in an EV application."

Jed Kraiem, Chief Operating Officer of Novacium SAS, said the evaluation would provide "valuable application-level feedback" from Aptera's technical team.

HPQ described the agreement as part of its North American battery commercialization strategy, moving ENDURA+ cells from internal validation into external application-level evaluation.