- Stellantis has partnered with Zeta Power to develop lithium-sulfur EV batteries.
- This chemistry guarantees extra vary, much less weight and decrease prices in comparison with typical lithium-ion cells.
- Stellantis can be engaged on solid-state batteries with Factorial.
Stable-state batteries are usually not the one know-how that guarantees elevated vary, decrease manufacturing prices and decrease weight. It’s additionally not the one know-how that’s “simply across the nook” for tomorrow’s electrical automobiles.
Lithium-sulfur batteries carry most of the identical guarantees as solid-state cells. They’ve been round for many years and are recognized amongst scientists for his or her nice power density, however an enormous downside has been retaining them from going mainstream: they tend to degrade fairly rapidly, making them unsuitable for electrical vehicles that want to supply constant driving ranges for years and yr.
Right here’s the place Stellantis and its new associate, Zeta Power, come into play. The 2 firms introduced they’re engaged on a brand new technology of lithium-sulfur batteries which have the potential to supply the identical usable power as right this moment’s liquid-based lithium-ion batteries however at half the worth. They’re additionally poised to supply 50% extra driving vary and 50% quicker charging periods, which may make EV possession a breeze.
Improvement is already underway and the settlement consists of each pre-production and planning for future scale manufacturing by 2030.
“Our collaboration with Zeta Power is one other step in serving to advance our electrification technique as we work to ship clear, secure and inexpensive automobiles,” stated Ned Curic, Chief Engineering and Expertise Officer at Stellantis. “Groundbreaking battery applied sciences like lithium-sulfur can assist Stellantis’ dedication to carbon neutrality by 2038 whereas making certain our prospects get pleasure from optimum vary, efficiency and affordability.”
One other big advantage of lithium-sulfur cells is that they don’t require cobalt, graphite, manganese or nickel, that are primarily sourced from outdoors the US and Europe. As an alternative, they’re produced utilizing waste supplies, unrefined sulfur and methane. Moreover, existent battery services can be utilized to fabricate the cells with supplies sourced completely from home provide chains in Europe or North America.
This isn’t the one battery-related challenge brewing at Stellantis. The auto large can be engaged on solid-state batteries with Factorial, and the primary Dodge Charger EV pilot fleet with liquid-less cells is slated to hit the streets by 2026.
