- Stellantis is set to further explore the mainstream application of solid-state batteries in its future EVs, after it announced that a pre-production demonstration fleet of the upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona EV would run on solid-state battery packs from Factorial.
- The move follows the OEM’s ongoing partnership with solid-state battery manufacturer, Factorial Energy, in which Stellantis made a $75 million investment back in 2021.
- These demonstration Charger Daytonas are expected to hit the roads in 2026, which could mark the arrival of the first solid-state battery-equipped EV to come out of Stellantis.
Stellantis reiterates its commitment to solid-state batteries
The benefits of solid-state batteries in EVs are already widely known, with their higher energy density allowing the possibility to boost the range of smaller EVs, while also allowing record-high range capabilities on EVs with larger battery packs. The particular solid-state battery pack set to be placed in these demo Daytonas will have a specific energy density of over 390 Wh/kg. That compares to between 250-300 Wh/kg on a typical lithium-ion unit, giving an indication of how much of a range boost a solution like this can offer.
With these moves, both Stellantis and Factorial Energy are hoping to ‘accelerate’ both development and deployment of solid-state batteries. This demonstration fleet will help validate the use of solid-state EVs in the real world, and could result in more Stellantis EVs being equipped with such battery technology in the near future.
Other manufacturers are also expected to use Factorial’s expertise in the solid-state battery game. Mercedes-Benz also recently announced a similar partnership with the firm, while Hyundai and Kia have also partnered with Factorial. Other firms pushing to bring solid-state batteries to market includes Samsung SDI, who already provide EV batteries to OEMs such as BMW.
Ned Curic, Stellantis’ Chief Engineering and Technology Officer, commented:
“This demonstration fleet is an important milestone in our partnership with Factorial. By integrating Factorial’s innovative battery solution into the STLA Large platform, we are validating its potential to enhance our electric vehicle lineup, ensuring customers benefit from improved performance, longer driving ranges and faster charging times in the coming years.”
Siyu Huang, Factorial CEO and Co-Founder, added:
“We are honored to be part of this journey with Stellantis to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles. We believe solid-state technology can play a crucial role in enabling the next generation of EVs with improved performance and reduced costs.”
