Swedish electric car manufacturer Polestar, and StoreDot, a leader in extreme fast charging (XFC) battery technology for electric vehicles, have achieved a significant breakthrough in battery technology, taking vehicles from ten to 80 percent charged in just ten minutes.
An innovative partnership between Polestar and StoreDot shows a Polestar 5 prototype equipped with StoreDot’s innovative silicon-dominant battery cells, which charged the vehicle in ten minutes. The announcement holds the potential to reshape consumer expectations and accelerate the widespread adoption of electric vehicles with the promise of quicker charging.
During the demonstration, the Polestar vehicle was powered by a 77kWh battery pack that maintained a consistent charging rate exceeding 310kW throughout the test and peaked at more than 370kW. The battery pack’s operational parameters, including temperature, voltage, and capacity, were closely monitored, confirming no overheating issues. This test highlights StoreDot’s ‘drop-in’ capability for integration into existing vehicle models, using available charging infrastructure instead of proprietary technology.
“By eliminating charging times that were previously an obstacle, StoreDot’s XFC battery cells combined with our cutting-edge product development and battery engineering have unlocked new frontiers for electric mobility,” Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, said in a statement. “This technology will reshape consumer expectations and accelerate mass EV adoption by making EV ownership a seamless experience for the mass market.”
Dr. Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot, called XFC “a necessary standard to make vast EV adoption a reality.”
“With our extreme fast charging technology, you can add 200 miles in under ten minutes,” he said. “This breakthrough revolutionizes EV ownership experience by eradicating the barrier of range and charging anxiety once and for all. Drivers can now truly travel long distances with the same freedom and convenience as traditional petrol-powered vehicles.”
StoreDot has plans to achieve production readiness for its cells that will enable 100 miles of range to be charged in just five minutes by the end of the year. The company also has ambitious targets for the coming years, aiming to reduce charging time to four minutes for 100 miles by 2026 and to three minutes by 2028. In addition to technical advancements, StoreDot is preparing for significant strategic developments, including shipping prismatic B-samples to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and establishing key manufacturing partnerships.
The news comes as California has hit a milestone for EVs, significantly expanded its network of electric vehicle chargers, now boasting one fast charging station for every five gas stations in the state. This growth is part of a multi-billion dollar investment approved in February, aimed at enhancing the state’s charging infrastructure and hydrogen refueling capabilities, particularly in low-income areas. The plan includes deploying 40,000 new public chargers to establish the largest charging network in the U.S. To date, California has installed 105,000 public or shared private chargers, along with over 500,000 at-home chargers.
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