Stellantis is aiming to halve the battery weight in its future EVs to make them comparable with gas-powered vehicles, as per a brand new report. To realize its goal, the group is working with a number of battery expertise firms, exploring appropriate chemistries.

On the inauguration of its new Mirafiori Battery Expertise Heart in Turin, Italy, the group’s engineering boss Ned Curic informed Autocar that right now’s batteries have been too heavy and that light-weight batteries and environment friendly cell packaging are very important shifting ahead.

Present lithium-ion batteries are among the many heaviest parts in EVs, and the heft can adversely have an effect on efficiency, effectivity, and security. For example, a GMC Hummer EV’s battery alone weighs 2,818 kilos, the equal of a Honda Civic.

Earlier in 2023, Stellantis invested in California battery firm Lyten, which is creating light-weight lithium-sulfur batteries. The San Jose-based firm claims a decrease materials value, a 60 % weight discount, and resistance to thermal runaway.

It has additionally talked about the elimination of nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite. Cobalt has well-documented detrimental human and environmental impacts, and a number of other firms are shifting away from it.

Stellantis additionally talked about sodium-ion batteries as a attainable various. CATL has developed a first-generation sodium-ion battery and claims a excessive vitality density, quick charging functionality, and improved thermal stability. Chinese language state-owned carmaker Chery is reportedly the primary automaker to make use of CATL’s sodium-ion (Na-ion) batteries.

Stellantis, which is the dad or mum firm of manufacturers like Alfa Romeo, Ram Vehicles, Citroen, Peugeot, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, and Fiat amongst others, inaugurated its new $43 million Battery Expertise in Turin final week.

With a footprint of 8,000 sq. meters, the group claims it’s one in every of Europe’s largest battery testing and growth hubs. Staff on the facility will oversee stress checks, sturdiness checks, battery administration system software program growth and calibration, and teardowns amongst different obligations.

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The group can be working with France’s Nationwide Centre For Scientific Analysis (CNRS) and TotalEnergies-owned battery options firm Saft to develop a battery that integrates inverter and charger features throughout the module to release area, cut back value, and enhance vary. The obvious resolution is named Clever Battery Built-in System (IBIS), and Stellantis has filed a number of patents for it.

There are myriad experiments underway in battery expertise throughout the globe with the widespread aim of lowering prices, enhancing vitality density, and growing driving vary. We’ll have to attend for just a few years to see if a number of options can remedy the persistent situation of vary nervousness.