Israeli li-ion battery company StoreDot successfully proved that its extreme fast-charging electric vehicle batteries can offer owners a winterproof charging experience, as per the press release.
Lab testing
StoreDot recently initiated an experiment involving its cutting-edge silicon battery cells to determine its capability to withstand cold weather, one of the prevailing challenges of electric automakers in electric vehicle development.
The battery developer primarily seeks to prove that electric vehicle owners can overcome winter range anxiety and tap into their batteries’ optimal range even in freezing conditions with its silicon-dominant extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology.
Results
As demonstrated in the laboratory testing, StoreDot’s XFC battery technology hit 80% capacity when charged at -10ºC (14ºF) under standard charging speed.
In addition, the battery cells also delivered a consistent discharge rate and a satisfactory driving range, even under sub-freezing conditions.
StoreDot’s XFC battery technology enabled more than 85% of its maximum range at 14°F (-10°C). Impressively, it still managed to deliver over 70% of its full range capacity even in the extreme cold conditions of -4°F (-20°C).
“Our batteries deliver optimal driving range even in most extreme, subzero conditions. With our revolutionary technology drivers can now conquer winter’s toughest challenges, ensuring a smooth driving experience in any climate or conditions and eliminating winter range anxiety.”
Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot
Significance
The weak performance of electric vehicle batteries in cold weather has been one of the biggest difficulties electric automakers have yet to solve.
Electric automakers have witnessed their battery-powered vehicles’ claimed range decline in cold weather, prompting several players to employ various strategies to overcome this challenge. Nonetheless, this issue remained persistent, significantly impeding the shift to sustainable mobility.
“Our latest tests have demonstrated that our batteries can outperform traditional cold weather range and charging limitations that often hamper electric vehicles in colder climates. Although all lithium-ion batteries tend to lose capacity in extreme cold, our innovative design that uses silicon-dominant anodes minimizes this loss.”
Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot
StoreDot’s targets
The Israeli battery developer, whose strategic investors include Daimler, Mercedes-Benz, Polestar, VinFast, and Volvo Cars, claims it is now on track to roll out its production-ready XFC cells in 2024. These innovative battery cells promise to add 100 miles of range in just five minutes.
StoreDot seeks to further improve its battery tech to achieve 100 miles of additional range in just 4 minutes in 2026 and 3 minutes by 2028. Impressively, the company managed to hit its 2026 target in 2024.
In addition, it also plans to finally deploy prismatic B-samples to electric automakers, enabling them to test the prototype with a high level of maturity. StoreDot also seeks to expand its operations in the United States to reach commercialization this year.
