Stellantis to Field Solid-State-Battery Dodge Charger Fleet by 2026

Stellantis is ramping up a partnership with a U.S. battery technology specialist in a bid to accelerate its deployment of solid-state power packs for its future battery-electric vehicles.

The move builds on the automaker group’s $75 million investment first made in 2021 into the solid-state battery maker Factorial based in Woburn, MA.

Now Stellantis promises to launch a demonstration fleet of new Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles by 2026 equipped with solid-state batteries on the way to bringing the technology to market.

It says this demonstration fleet will establish the validation of Factorial’s technology and assess its performance in real-world driving conditions.

Factorial will supply the automaker with cells based on its proprietary FEST solid-state battery technology, which claims a specific energy density of over 390 Wh/kg.

The technology is said to offer advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries including higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance and a potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time.

Stellantis has chosen the STLA Large multi-energy platform for the test fleet owing to its focus on high-volume electric SUVs and performance vehicles and is designed to support the production of up to 2 million vehicles globally.

Stellantis' chief engineering and technology officer, Ned Curic, says: “This demonstration fleet is an important milestone in our partnership with Factorial. By integrating Factorial’s innovative battery solution into the STLA Large platform, we are validating its potential to enhance our electric vehicle lineup, ensuring customers benefit from improved performance, longer driving ranges and faster charging times in the coming years.”