Swedish automaker Polestar announced plans to officially start testing the integration of StoreDot’s extreme fast charging (XFC) cells to a Polestar 5 prototype in 2024. According to CarBuzz, the company made the announcement during the Polestar Day event in California on November 9, 2023.
The event showcased the innovative “100-in-5” XFC cell while charging beside the Polestar 5 battery module prototype.
Partnership details
StoreDot reportedly disclosed that the primary purpose of the partnership with Polestar is to nail the most efficient way to bring the “100-in-5” cells to production.
The two major players also indicated that they are actively working together on an advanced engineering project to determine the ideal approach to integrate the XFC cells into existing architecture and demonstrate “what a production-level solution could look like.”
Remarkably, StoreDot’s groundbreaking XFC cells will provide the new Polestar 5 an additional 100-mile driving range in just five minutes of charging session.
“This is a huge step for StoreDot and a strong endorsement that our groundbreaking technology is readying for mass production. We are extremely pleased and proud that Polestar aims to be the first automotive company to showcase our extreme fast charging battery cells in a full-scale, driveable prototype. We still have lots of work to do to fully integrate our systems into a production car, but our teams are already fully engaged, and we will be demonstrating those results in the coming months.”
StoreDot CEO Dr. Doron Myersdorf
Polestar CEO also noted that the automaker aims to tap StoreDot’s advanced battery cell technology to innovate its electric vehicles, InsideEVs reported.
“StoreDot’s pioneering extreme fast charging batteries, combined with our upcoming top-of-the-line electric powertrain, can revolutionize the ownership experience for EV owners with the ability to recharge in minutes.”
Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath
StoreDot’s 100-in-5 battery cells
StoreDot is an emerging battery startup that develops silicon-dominant pouch cells to stimulate extremely fast charging. According to Ars Technica, StoreDot employs silicon anodes and builds the components in pouch cells that are thinner than standard cells today. This approach apparently avoids overheating while fast charging.
As the name suggests, the 100-in-5 cells enable a 100-mile driving range boost in just 5 minutes. The company also claims that the XCF cells it developed do not degrade even after undergoing 1,000 consecutive extreme fast charging (XFC) tests in comparison to slow charging sessions via Level 1/2 chargers, EV-a2z reported.
What’s currently known about the Polestar 5?
Polestar’s attractive Precept concept car, now named the Polestar 5, will arrive sometime in 2024. It is a modern four-door electric hatchback that is expected to feature dual motors with a maximum output of 884 horsepower.
Car and Driver further asserted that the all-wheel drive (AWD) electric car may offer a driving range of at least 300 miles owing to its 103.0-kWh battery pack. Apart from that, it will also boast eco-friendly interior materials.
If StoreDot and Polestar succeed in demonstrating the viability of the 100-in-5 cells next year, the battery startup will advance to the development of its planned 100-in-3 by 2028 and 100-in-2 technology in 2032. In hindsight, independent battery lab Shmuel De-Leon Energy tested the company’s XFC cells in 2022, saying that they have potential for commercial production.
