Polestar has announced plans to equip its future models with what it calls extreme fast charging (XFC) technology. For many, slow charging on the go during a journey is often seen as the main barrier to buying an EV, but through a collaboration with StoreDot, that could soon be a thing of the past. A prototype of the battery that will power the Polestar 5, the company's forthcoming flagship saloon, demonstrates how the range can be extended by 160 kilometres in five minutes. It does this without relying on any significant changes to existing battery pack design.
StoreDot first made a name for itself when it demonstrated a mobile phone that could fully recharge in 30 seconds. In 2019, it showcased an electric moped that could recharge fully in five minutes, and that time frame is now being targeted to add 160 kilometres of range to an electric car. The StoreDot technology focuses on the chemical composition of the silicon cell pouches that make up the battery pack, while existing 350kW DC fast chargers are vital to adding such range.
StoreDot claims the battery packs experience no premature degradation due to the rapid charging. What helps make this form of battery work is that it uses nano-silicon, but the rest of the cell is produced using current methods. Existing battery factories could easily mass-produce them without major hardware or process changes. Faster charging rates could also signal a gradual decrease in overall battery size, as there would be less of a time penalty for recharging. That move would not only result in less material going into the battery, but the overall weight of the battery pack would come down, increasing efficiency further.
Dr Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO, says: "Polestar has been one of our key investors and collaborators as we develop our XFC technology. Next year we'll show how a full-scale battery module developed by Polestar with this revolutionary technology can be charged. Charging anxiety will soon be a thing of the past."
Polestar 5 will debut StoreDot tech
Slated for official launch in 2024, the Polestar 5 is a fastback grand tourer previewed by the 2020 Precept concept car. A dual-motor setup with all-wheel drive will power it and promises high performance outputs of 884hp and 900Nm. It relies on 800-volt electric architecture essential to enable such rapid charging. The model will also be the first Polestar car developed entirely on a bespoke bonded aluminium structure. All other Polestar models to date share platforms with Volvo.
Speaking at a demonstration of the technology, Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: "StoreDot is making huge strides forward in the development of their extreme fast charging technology and we are a proud investor and partner in its evolution. StoreDot's pioneering extreme fast charging batteries, combined with our upcoming top-of-the-line electric powertrain, can revolutionise the ownership experience for EV owners with the ability to recharge in minutes."