Stellantis and battery manufacturer Factorial have showcased a Dodge Charger Daytona prototype, operating on next-generation solid state battery cells. The announcement comes as a significant number of OEMs, including Stellantis, consider switching from conventional lithium-ion batteries to solid state batteries in some of their future electric models.
Solid-state batteries, while still more expensive than their lithium-ion counterparts, could bring a number of significant advantages to EVs equipped with them. Their greater energy density can give EVs a much longer range even in a battery pack of the same size, while they also bring faster recharging times, improved safety, and better cold weather performance to the table.
Stellantis and Factorial have collaborated on advancing this technology over the last few years, and this demo vehicle is a significant milestone for the two firms, marking the first integration of solid-state battery cells into a Stellantis EV. Road testing of this demonstration vehicle is now underway, helping to further measure and validate the real-world performance of solid-state cells, which Stellantis says is another step towards ‘automotive-grade’ application.
Stellantis isn’t the only manufacturer hoping to launch electric models with solid-state battery packs in the future, with manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and more undertaking development programs.
Ned Curic, Chief Engineering and Technology Officer at Stellantis, commented:
“Battery development is a balancing act. It’s not enough to optimize a single metric. We need a system that delivers real benefits in a real vehicle. This milestone shows we are bringing solid-state batteries closer to our customers with the potential for longer range, faster charging and lower costs. Just as important, FEST®’s strong compatibility with lithium-ion manufacturing processes gives us a critical path to scale this technology.”
Siyu Huang, CEO of Factorial, added:
“We are deeply honored to work alongside Stellantis, one of the world’s great mass-market automakers, on this STLA Large-based development car. What we have built together, from cell chemistry to pack architecture to enable real-world road testing, is exactly the kind of deep, full-stack collaboration that solid-state has always required. This milestone doesn’t just validate FEST®; it sets a new bar for what automotive-grade solid-state batteries can deliver and supports the development of future vehicles designed to meet the evolving needs of drivers.”
