Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer, and Israeli battery maker StoreDot have announced a significant advancement in EV battery charging technology. They claim to have successfully charged a Polestar 5 electric hatchback from 10 to 80 percent in just 10 minutes.
This breakthrough was made possible by StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology, which was used in a car for the first time. During the charging process, the Polestar 5 prototype experienced a consistent charge rate, starting at 310kW and peaking at over 370kW at the end of the charging session.
The demonstration showcased the capability of silicon-dominant cells in achieving a 10-minute extreme fast charge in a driveable vehicle, a significant milestone compared to previous lab-based experiments with individual cells.
StoreDot’s XFC technology offers energy density comparable to state-of-the-art nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells, eliminating the need for specialized cooling systems. Production of these batteries will not require separate production lines from existing lithium-ion batteries and will offer high recyclability and serviceability.
Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot, highlighted the impact of this technology, stating, “This breakthrough revolutionizes ownership by eradicating the barrier of range and charging anxiety once and for all.”
The 77kWh battery pack used in the Polestar 5 demonstration demonstrated the potential to add 320 kilometers of range to a mid-sized EV in just 10 minutes. Polestar also indicated that the 77kWh battery pack has the potential to be increased to at least 100kWh.
Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, emphasized the significance of this achievement in addressing charging anxiety, stating, “With this new technology, drivers will be able to spend less time charging and be back on the road faster than before, similar to what they experience with a petrol car today.”
