Polestar 5 Prototype Hits Charging Milestone with StoreDot

In a groundbreaking test, a Polestar 5 prototype charged from 10% to 80% in just 10 minutes using StoreDot’s cutting-edge technology, marking a significant advancement in EV charging efficiency.

Polestar, in collaboration with battery innovator StoreDot, has achieved a rapid charging breakthrough by charging a Polestar 5 prototype from 10% to 80% in just 10 minutes. This achievement is significant as it occurred not in a controlled lab setting but in a fully functional prototype, using StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology. The charging maintained a consistent 310 kW rate, peaking at 370 kW, showcasing an advancement in EV technology.

Thomas Ingenlath, CEO of Polestar, emphasized the importance of this development in reducing charging anxiety, a major barrier to EV adoption. He compared the reduced charging times to refueling times for traditional petrol cars, suggesting that this technology could make electric vehicles more appealing for long journeys.

StoreDot, although not widely known outside industry circles, has been refining its XFC technology for over a decade with the aim of creating batteries that are not only faster to charge but also denser and more durable. The company used silicon-dominant cells in a 77kWh configuration for this test, with the potential to expand up to 100 kWh. These silicon cells match the energy density of the top-performing Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt cells and eliminate the need for specialized cooling systems due to their unique structural function, which also reduces weight.

This rapid charging capability implies that similar vehicles could add 200 miles of range in the same 10-minute charging window. Notably, the Polestar 5 prototype exhibited an increase in charging speed towards full capacity, a feature not typically seen in current production vehicles, indicating a remarkably stable charge state.

The collaboration between Polestar and StoreDot aims to shift public perception about EVs, especially regarding the extended charging times commonly associated with electric cars compared to quick refueling times for gas vehicles. Faster charging times could significantly reduce the downtime during travel, bridging the convenience gap between electric and conventional cars.

This innovation is part of a broader wave of rapid development in the automotive industry, where new battery technologies and software optimizations are expected to dramatically improve EV capabilities by the decade’s end. StoreDot plans to continue enhancing their technology, aiming to enable a 100-mile charge in as little as five minutes by 2024, with further improvements in subsequent years.

While this technology is still in the prototype stage and requires more refinement, there’s potential for it to be integrated into future Polestar vehicles, possibly in models succeeding the Polestar 2. This advancement heralds significant changes on the horizon for the electric vehicle industry.