Polestar, the Swedish electric vehicle brand, has joined forces with Israel-based start-up StoreDot to develop an electric prototype that offers extremely fast charging speeds. Unlike previous demonstrations that took place in laboratories, this prototype achieved its impressive charging time while being driven on the road. StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology was installed in a Polestar 5, a forthcoming fastback-like sedan set to launch in 2025.
What sets this charging technology apart is the fact that it maintained fast charging speeds throughout the process. Typically, as the battery’s charge level increases, charging speeds tend to decrease in most electric vehicles currently available on the market. However, the Polestar prototype experienced charging speeds of 310 kilowatts initially, which rose to 370 kilowatts as it approached 80% charge. This is a significant advancement that could potentially revolutionize the charging experience for future electric vehicle owners.
Adding to its impressive capabilities is the specially commissioned 77-kilowatt-hour battery pack installed in the prototype. Theoretically, this battery pack’s capacity could be increased to at least 100 kilowatt hours, enabling it to add approximately 200 miles of range to a mid-size electric vehicle in just 10 minutes. This improvement in range and charging time is a significant step forward in tackling one of the main concerns for electric vehicle owners—range anxiety.
One notable aspect of this breakthrough is that modifying the cooling system was unnecessary to achieve the impressive 370-kilowatt charging speed. While specific details about the test conditions have not been disclosed, it’s important to consider factors such as ambient temperature that can influence charging times. However, what’s clear is that Polestar’s success lies in their innovative battery pack design. The pack utilizes silicon-dominant cells, known for their ability to deliver high power densities and improve charging efficiency.
Furthermore, Polestar emphasizes that this Extreme Fast Charging technology is compatible with the existing Direct Current (DC) charging infrastructure, meaning it can be used with standard charging stations. This eliminates the need for specialized charging infrastructure and allows for widespread adoption of this fast-charging technology. The compatibility with existing infrastructure is crucial for the widespread acceptance and adoption of electric vehicles, as it reduces the barriers to entry and ensures convenient charging for all electric vehicle owners.
While Polestar hasn’t made a firm commitment to implement this technology in its future vehicles, it acknowledges the potential benefits and states that it could be applied to some of its forthcoming models. The brand typically follows a development cycle of two to three years, indicating that this technology could potentially be incorporated into production vehicles within that timeframe. Such a timeline would signify a remarkable acceleration in bringing this breakthrough charging technology to the market.
In conclusion, Polestar’s partnership with StoreDot has resulted in a significant breakthrough in electric vehicle charging technology. The prototype equipped with StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging solution demonstrated impressive charging speeds that remained fast throughout the process. The compatibility of this technology with existing charging infrastructure and the potential to increase battery capacity provide a promising outlook for the future of electric vehicle charging. As Polestar continues its development cycle, it remains to be seen whether this innovative charging technology will become a standard feature in their forthcoming models. Nonetheless, this collaboration serves as a testament to the ongoing advancements in electric vehicle technology that aim to make electric vehicles more accessible and convenient for all.
