Stellantis, which has its North American headquarters in Auburn Hills, and Massachusetts-based Factorial Energy today announced the signing of a joint development agreement to further develop Factorial’s high-voltage traction solid-state battery technology.
The agreement also includes an investment of an undisclosed amount from Stellantis.
“Our investment in Factorial and other highly recognized battery partners boosts the speed and agility needed to provide cutting-edge technology for our electric vehicle portfolio,” says Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. “Initiatives like these will yield a faster time to market and a more cost-effective transition to solid-state technology.”
Factorial has developed solid-state technology that addresses key issues holding back wide-scale consumer adoption of electric vehicles: driving range and safety, the companies say.
“It is a great honor to partner with Stellantis, a leading global mobility player, which has some of the most iconic auto brands in the world,” says Siyu Huang, co-founder and CEO of Factorial Energy. “It is an incredible opportunity for us to advance the adoption of our clean, efficient and safe solid-state battery technology to the mass market.”
Stellantis announced during its EV Day program in July its goal of having the first competitive solid-state battery technology introduced by 2026.
Factorial’s advances are based on FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology), which leverages a proprietary solid electrolyte material that enables safe and reliable cell performance with high-voltage and high-capacity electrodes and has been scaled in 40Ah cells that perform at room temperature.
According to Factorial, FEST is safer than conventional lithium-ion technology, extends driving range, and is drop-in compatible for easy integration into the existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure.
In other Stellantis battery news, the Associated Press and other outlets are reporting that the automaker has secured a five-year supply of lithium hydroxide in Europe to support its plans to convert to 98 percent electrified vehicles by 2025.
The automaker, according to the reports, has entered into an agreement with Vulcan Energy Resources in Germany, which uses geothermal energy to produce the battery-quality lithium hydroxide from brine without using fossil fuels.
As part of the agreement, Vulcan will supply between 81,000 metric tons and 99,000 metric tons of lithium hydroxide over the five-year term, beginning in 2026.
“Stellantis is moving forward on its electrification strategy with speed and power,” says Michelle Wen, chief purchasing and supply chain officer for Stellantis, in a statement. “This agreement is further proof that we have the competitive spirit to deliver on our commitments. Safe, clean, and affordable freedom of mobility represents a strong expectation of our societies, and we are committed to deliver on that matter.”
