Israeli battery start-up StoreDot has started sending samples of its radical '100in5' battery cells to car firms for testing, as it starts work to finalise supply deals before mass production begins in 2024.
StoreDot is working on a range of fast-charging batteries, including a ‘100in5’ unit that it says, as the name strongly hints, can accept 100 miles of charge in just five minutes.
It has sent a number of 30Ah silicon-dominant anode, lithium-ion pouch cells to more than a dozen OEM firms and 'other automotive players' to showcase the technology, so that those companies can undertake real-world testing with the technology.
Amir Tirosh, StoreDot's business chief, said the shipments were the "culmination of ten years of intense research and development and demonstrates our strong determination to push the known boundaries of battery technology to accelerate mass EV adoption and eliminate range and charging anxiety.”
Recently, Storedot's plans for rapid development of its 'extreme fast-charging' technology were boosted after investments in the firm passed $200 million (£160 million).
The firm claims that it has secured investment from companies that span "the entire battery ecosystem", and which will help it develop the technology faster. Electric car firms to have invested in StoreDot include Polestar, Daimler, Volvo, VinFast and Ola Electric.
StoreDot is preparing for mass production of the 100in5 cells in China, working with manufacturing partner EVE Energy. Having produced the sample pouch cells, and cylindrical cells in 2170 and 4680 formats are due to be produced later this year.
Polestar, which is part of the Chinese Geely group alongside Volvo, has now made an unspecified investment in StoreDot, with the aim of using its ‘extreme fast-charging’ technology in future models.. It has also said it will investigate using StoreDot’s ‘silicon-dominant’ batteries in future products.
At the time of the investment, Polestar boss Thomas Ingenlath said: “Charging and range anxiety are common concerns holding owners of combustion engine cars back from making the switch to EVs. StoreDot’s advanced battery technology potentially provides real solutions to these obstacles.”
Ingenlath added that the firm is currently working with StoreDot on pilot projects, and if those were successful “we could see these solutions being implemented in Polestar cars by 2026.”
StoreDot said the investment from Polestar would help it accelerate development of the 100in5 battery. Company boss Doron Myersdorf added: “We know that our technologies will prove to be greatly beneficial, helping to eradicate EV drivers’ range and charging anxieties.”
StoreDot has already received investment from a number of car firms including Daimler, Volvo, Vietnamese firm VinFast and Indian firm Ola Electric.
Polestar currently offers the Polestar 2 electric crossover, and will launch the Polestar 3 large SUV later this year. It will launch one model per year from then on, with the smaller Polestar 4 SUV due in 2024 and the Polestar 5 four-door GT, based on a concept car called the Precept, following in 2025. The firm has also shown a roader concept called the Polestar O2.
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