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Auto industry analysts are convinced that the powerful new solid-state EV battery of the future will appear sometime around 2030, but Stellantis is determined to beat expectations. In a partnership with the Massachusetts startup Factorial, the company plans to launch a fleet of all-new Dodge Charger Daytona EVs by 2026, outfitted with Factorial’s proprietary “FEST” solid-state battery cells.
The Solid-State EV Battery Advantage
CleanTechnica has spilled plenty of ink on solid-state EV batteries, which replace the conventional, flammable liquid electrolyte fully or partly with a high tech ceramic or other solid material (see more solid-state background here).
Getting electrons to pass through a solid material in an EV battery requires jumping through some formidable engineering and chemistry hoops, but the payoff is worth the effort. Stellantis neatly sums up Factorial’s contribution to the field:
“Factorial’s FEST® offers substantial advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries including higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance and a potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time. This makes it an ideal candidate for powering next-generation EVs.”
To be clear, the electrolyte in a FEST (short for Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) EV battery is not 100% solid. “FEST® combines a lithium-metal anode, quasi-solid electrolyte technology, and an high-capacity cathode,” the company explains.
Still, it’s close enough to yield the performance and safety benefits expected of solid-state technology. Factorial also explains that the battery is designed for ease of manufacturing, a key consideration in terms of keeping costs down.
A Muscular EV Battery For A Muscle Car
EV drivers will expect to see significant performance improvements from cars sporting a solid-state battery, and the Dodge Charger Daytona muscle car provides Stellantis with a perfect opportunity to put the battery through its paces before launching full production.
“This demonstration fleet will enable the validation of Factorial’s technology and assessment of its performance in real-world driving conditions,” Stellantis explains.
Apparently the automaker expects that everything will go according to plan, because the Charger Daytona is just one among a suite of meaty cars that will be equipped with the new EV battery. Stellantis’ Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler and Maserati brands are next in the solid-state line, reflecting the company’s take on consumer interest in North America and other key markets.
Along with the Charger, this group of Stellantis brands fall under the company’s newly launched “STLA Large” bespoke electric vehicle platform. “The platform enables several segment-leading capabilities including embedded energy, charging efficiency, high-performance vehicle dynamics and Trail Rated off-road driving,” Stellantis explained in a press statement earlier this year. In all, the company expects to launch eight EVs under the new platform by 2026.
“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,” explains Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer Ned Curic.
The FEST EV Battery Is Almost Here…
Stellantis began working with Factorial on solid-state batteries in 2021, when Daimler also joined in. That may seem like a random matchup, but in 2021 the Mercedes-Benz division of Daimler hooked up with Automotive Cells Company, an entity launched by Stellantis and TotalEnergies.
Factorial has also hooked up with other OEMs to test its new EV battery. To accommodate all the activity, last year the company moved its operations into a new R&D facility near Boston. “Featuring a state-of-the-art dry room and wet lab, the facility is equipped for scientists to fine-tune the processes for manufacturing battery cells at mass production speed and volume,” Factorial explained.
…But Wait ‘Til You See The Solstice
Factorial is also among the battery innovators working on 100% solid-state technology. The company has trademarked the name “Solstice” for the new battery, which deploys a sulfide-based material for the electrolyte.
Factorial unveiled the Solstice just last month, billing it with a “breakthrough” energy density of up to 450Wh/kg.
“Solstice™ enables industry-leading performance and safety for electric mobility and Factorial expects the technology to be introduced by OEMs before the end of the decade,” Factorial said of its new battery.
“Solstice™’s high energy density can extend EV range up to 80% while significantly reducing vehicle weight and increasing vehicle efficiency,” the company added.
As for cost, that’s a good question. Factorial is aiming for a “2” safety rating from EUCAR, which it expects to earn by demonstrating that the battery is stable at high temperatures topping 90°C (190 degrees Fahrenheit). All else being equal, that results in a savings on vehicle costs related to cooling systems.
A Better EV Battery Is Also A More Sustainable One
Factorial also expects the Solstice EV battery to meet the demands of automakers who are scrambling over each other to show off their sustainability profile to the car-buying public. That’s a tough row to hoe even for electric vehicles. After all, EVs ply the same roads as conventional cars and they suck copious resources from the Earth.
Nevertheless, there is room for improvement, as Factorial notes.
“Through a novel dry coating process, Solstice™ eliminates the need for hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps commonly used in traditional cathode production,” the company explains. That includes skipping over the formation process, which Factorial describes as the “most energy-consuming stage of lithium-ion battery manufacturing.”
“By combining these innovations, Solstice™ reduces operating costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact, paving the way for a more sustainable future for battery production,” Factorial concludes, noting that the company is also eyeing the consumer electronics market in addition to EVs.
Who’s Going To Pay For All This?
Factorial is just one among many stakeholders in the EV battery field that have kept right on developing new improved batteries while ignoring all the chatter about a slowdown in the pace of EV sales. After all, globally sales continue to increase, partly on account of strong activity in China.
In recent months some automakers ramped down their initial expectations for EV sales and/or refocused their attention on plug-in hybrids. However, the ever more compelling case for global decarbonization will continue to push the industry forward.
In the meantime, some interesting theories about the slower pace of EV sales have been popping up. The latest theory to catch my attention involves two-car households that already bought one EV but are sticking with gas for the other car.
I’m also guessing that drivers on a budget are hanging onto their gasmobiles as long as they still function. The cost of batteries is heading for a steep drop over the next two years, which will make EVs more affordable. However, a new car is still a new car, and new cars are expenses that can be avoided if one’s old car is still in good shape.
EV tax credits are a good first step, but they are not breaking the logjam. Another CARS “cash for clunkers” program to stimulate sales could help get the ball rolling. The Obama administration launched CARS in 2009 on the heels of the Great Recession. Though some critics charged that the program did not work as intended, the Obama administration crunched the numbers and noted that “many of the CARS sales were to the kinds of thrifty people who can afford to buy a new car but normally wait until the old one is thoroughly worn out.”
“Stimulating spending by such people is very nearly the best possible countercylical fiscal policy in an economy suffering from temporarily low aggregate demand,” the White House explained in a press statement.
Interesting! If you have any thoughts about the application of a CARS-like buyback to speed up the pace of vehicle decarbonization, drop a note in the comment thread.
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Photo (cropped): Stellantis tapped the all new Dodge Charger Daytona EV to show off its new high performance, solid-state EV battery developed in collaboration with the US startup Factorial (courtesy of Stellantis via prnewswire.com).
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