Plans in building demonstration fleet of vehicles fitted with solid-state batteries from U.S. startup Factorial by 2026 were revealed by Stellantis N.V. (STLA, Financial). The action is a direct result of a continuous cooperation that began in 2021 when Stellantis made $75 million Factorial investments.
Deemed as a breakthrough for electric vehicles (EVs), solid-state batteries offer lighter, less expensive vehicles with more range and less chances of catching a fire. For large-scale manufacturers, the technology is still difficult to scale up, though. An important first step toward commercialization, the forthcoming demonstration fleet seeks to evaluate Factorial's batteries' performance in real-world driving environments.
Designed on Stellantis's STLA Large platform, which supports models from Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati, the fleet will comprise all-new Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles. Ned Curic, the Chief Engineering and Technology Officer of Stellantis, underlined that including Factorial's solid-state battery technology might improve performance, driving range, and charging times across the fleet of EVs.
With intentions to support up to two million vehicles worldwide, Stellantis' STLA Large platform centers on high- volume electric SUVs and performance vehicles. Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai, two automakers, have also made investments in Factorial to underscoring increasing demand for solid-state batteries.
