Polestar x StoreDot. Foto: Polestar
Polestar and fast-charging battery pioneer StoreDot have successfully demonstrated StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging technology (XFC) for the first time: A Polestar 5 prototype was charged from 10 to 80 percent in just 10 minutes. The already roadworthy prototype showed a constant charging power that started at 310 kW and increased to a peak value of over 370 kW at the end of the charging process. This is the world’s first demonstration of extremely fast charging from 10 to 80 percent within 10 minutes with silicon dominated cells in a roadworthy vehicle – not with single cells in a laboratory environment. It underlines Polestar’s commitment to developing the best driving experience for the future through innovative technology partnerships. The specially commissioned 77 kWh battery, which can potentially be increased to at least 100 kWh, could add 320 kilometers to the range of a mid-size electric car within 10 minutes in the future. The XFC test was developed by Polestar and StoreDot engineers to provide proof of concept for the XFC battery technology that could be used in future Polestar vehicles.
StoreDot’s XFC technology uses silicon-dominated cells with an energy density comparable to that of the latest NMC cells. These do not require any special cooling systems in the vehicle. The modules of the experimental XFC battery have a structural function that improves the mechanical properties and cooling capability. At the same time, the weight is maintained or even reduced. High recyclability and ease of maintenance are of the utmost importance in the design of the packs.
With current commercially available batteries for electric vehicles, fast charging rates can vary greatly depending on the state of charge of the battery and can sometimes drop significantly as the state of charge increases. During this test, Polestar saw an increase in charging speed from 310 kW at 10 percent to over 370 kW at 80 percent state of charge. This proves that the technology provides a constant charging speed without significant variations in speed or efficiency whenever the driver takes a break within this range.
The test also proves that XFC technology works with today’s DC charging infrastructure, where more and more charging points with 350 kW or more are being installed. This means that drivers would spend less time charging their vehicle in the future. Currently, many modern electric cars still take around 30 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent. Reducing this time to 10 minutes will bring the charging time of a vehicle with XFC technology closer to the time it would take to fill up a car with gasoline. And thanks to the constant charging speeds, consumers could increase their charge level from 50 percent to 80 percent in just 5 minutes.
