Polestar, the Swedish electric performance car maker, and StoreDot, a leader in battery innovation, have achieved a significant milestone by successfully charging a Polestar 5 prototype from 10% to 80% in just ten minutes. This breakthrough demonstration utilised StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology in a fully drivable car, marking a first in the industry – with a lot more being promised for the near future.
The test involved a Polestar 5 prototype with a specially designed 77 kWh battery pack, which potentially could be expanded to at least 100 kWh. This enhancement would enable a mid-sized electric car to gain 200 miles of range in just ten minutes. The charging session commenced at a rate of 310 kW, escalating to over 370 kW towards its conclusion.
This initiative is part of Polestar's ongoing efforts to enhance the driving experience through innovative technology collaborations. It represents a significant advancement from traditional lab tests on individual battery cells to real-world application in a driveable vehicle.
Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, expressed the importance of this development in addressing one of the primary hurdles to electric vehicle (EV) adoption: charging anxiety. “Time is one of life's greatest luxuries, and as a manufacturer of luxury electric performance cars, we need to take the next step to address one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership – charging anxiety. With this new technology, on longer journeys when drivers do stop, they’ll be able to spend less time charging and be back on the road faster than before, akin to refuelling a petrol car,” said Ingenlath.
The XFC technology, developed by StoreDot, employs silicon-dominant cells that match the energy density of leading-edge NMC cells without the need for specialist cooling systems in the vehicle. These batteries are designed to be lightweight, highly recyclable, and easy to service while also serving structural purposes that enhance the vehicle's mechanical properties and cooling capabilities.
One of the unique features of the test was the consistent charging speed, which not only started high but increased as the battery's state of charge (SOC) rose. This performance is in stark contrast to typical commercial EV batteries, where charging rates can diminish significantly as the SOC increases. The technology's compatibility with existing DC charging infrastructure, which is increasingly supporting high-power chargers of 350 kW or more, was also demonstrated.
Dr Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot, shared his enthusiasm about the milestone. “We are very excited to share this impressive achievement today and proud to be on this journey with Polestar. This breakthrough revolutionises ownership by eradicating the barrier of range and charging anxiety once and for all as drivers will be able to travel long distances with the same freedom and convenience as traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles,” he remarked.
StoreDot's technology roadmap, ‘100inX’, aims to enable electric vehicles to charge 100 miles in five minutes by 2024, with further reductions in charging time planned for subsequent years. The company's strategic investors and partners include prominent industry names such as BP, Daimler, and Volvo Cars.
Polestar's current and upcoming vehicle lineup includes several models designed to cater to various aspects of the electric vehicle market, from the fastback Polestar 2 to the forthcoming electric four-door GT, Polestar 5. The company is also focused on sustainability, with ambitious projects like the Polestar 0 project aiming for a climate-neutral production car by 2030.
This collaboration between Polestar and StoreDot highlights the rapid advancements in EV technology, promising to make electric cars more appealing and practical for a broader audience by reducing charging times significantly.