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The battle to bring cheaper, more efficient, and safer EV batteries, is heating up among automakers.
At the heart of this battle, the development of solid-state battery technonology, an alternative to highly-flammable and costly lithium batteries, is garnering more and more attention.
For proof, Stellantis, the world’s fourth largest automaker, is betting on the technology for its next-generation of electric vehicles.
The Netherlands-based company announced that it will launch a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona EVs that will feature solid-state battery tech made by U.S. start-up Factorial.
The demo fleet, expected to launch by 2026, will provide a real-word assessment of Factorial’s technology, the companies said. Factorial has been partnering with Stellantis since 2021, and is also partnering with the likes of Daimler AG’s Mercedes Benz and Hyundai.
Besides Dodge, the technology would eventually be deployed on Stellantis’ STLA Large multi-energy platform, which includes brands as Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.
Stellantis said that the integration of solid-state battery technology will yield “improved performance, longer driving ranges, and faster charging times in the coming years.”
Factorial, meanwhile, says its technology provides higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance and a potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time.
Stellantis, Daimler and Hyundai aren’t the only ones to bet on solid-state battery tech: Toyota, the largest automaker in the world, has heavily invested in the technology. It also created a coalition with Nissan and Panasonic to boost its production in Japan.
So far, making solid-state batteries has remained an expensive endeavor, industry experts say. But steps such as Stellantis’ demo fleet, and production at scale by the likes of Factorial, are expected to improve manufacturing processes and costs over time.
Other automakers, meanwhile, are working on ways to improve lithium batteries. Volkswagen, for one is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.
Volkswagen plans 8 new affordable EVs by 2027, report says
Back in the early 1970s, when soaring oil prices stifled consumer demand for gas-powered vehicles, Volkswagen took a bet on a battery system that would power its first-ever electric concept vehicle, the Elektro Bus.
Now that the German automaker is facing a huge slump in sales in Europe and China, it’s again turning to affordable electric vehicles to save the day.Volkswagen brand chief Thomas Schaefer told German media that the company plans to bring eight new affordable EVs to market by 2027."We have to produce our vehicles profitably and put them on the road at affordable prices," he is quoted as saying.
One of the models will be the ID.2all hatchback, the development of which is currently being expedited to 36 months from its previous 50-month schedule. Last year, VW unveiled the ID.2all concept, promising to give it a price tag of under 25,000 euros ($27,000) for its planned release in 2025.VW CEO Larry Blume has also hinted at a sub-$22,000 EV to be released after 2025.It’s unclear which models would reach U.S. shores. Last year, VW America said it planned to release an under-$35,000 EV in the U.S. by 2027.The price of batteries is one of the main hurdles to reduced EV’s production costs and lower sale prices. VW is developing its own unified battery cell in several European plants, as well as one plant in Ontario, Canada.But in order for would-be U.S. buyers to obtain the Inflation Reduction Act's $7,500 tax credit on the purchase of an EV, the vehicle and its components, including the battery, must be produced at least in part domestically.VW already has a plant in Chattanooga, Tennesse, and is planning a new plant in South Carolina. But it’s unclear whether its new unified battery cells would be built or assembled there.
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Is DC fast charging really that bad for your EV’s battery? We asked the experts
It's commonplace to hear about best practices for ensuring that your EV's battery remains in top condition for the longest period of time. Chief among those is to only charge your electric vehicle to 80%. Also common, however, is the idea that DC fast charging your EV all the time degrades the battery in a way that can impact range.
That prospect is made even worse by the fact that range is already an issue when it comes to electric vehicles. Range anxiety is one of the biggest downsides of buying an electric vehicle, considering the fact that EVs take longer to refuel and there are far fewer charging stations than there are gas stations. And when you only charge your vehicle to 80%, you'll only get four-fifths of the range that the manufacturer advertised.
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2025 Porsche Macan EV first drive: electrifying a bestseller
Porsche is giving EVs a major vote of confidence. While the brand will continue to sell non-EVs for many years, including the emblematic 911, it developed the second generation of the Macan exclusively with electric power in mind. You won’t find a twin-turbocharged V6 or a plug-in hybrid system on the specifications sheet; it’s all electric, all the time. That’s a bold move -- we’re talking about one of Porsche’s bestselling models, not a niche car that has a greater effect on image than on sales. Was it the right move? Join us as we find out.
Subtly electric
There’s no mistaking the new Macan for its predecessor when you walk past it. It’s characterized by styling cues that align it with the Taycan sedan, which was the first series-produced electric Porsche. Up front, rectangular lights are accented by four individual LEDs; in back, there’s a light bar that makes the SUV appear wider than it actually is. Nothing about the design screams “I’m electric!” but there are relatively subtle hints if you know where to look. Here’s a cheat sheet: the front overhang is shorter than the original Macan’s and the wheelbase is nearly 4 inches longer. That’s because engineers had to package a massive battery pack rather than an engine.
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