Stellantis & LG to Make Battery Cells in NA
Stellantis N.V. and LG Energy Solution announced that their companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding to form a joint venture to produce battery cells and modules for North America.
The parties intend that the joint venture will establish a new battery manufacturing facility that will help power Stellantis’ goal of realizing more than 40% of its sales in the U.S. comprised of electrified vehicles by 2030. Targeted to start by the first quarter of 2024, the plant aims to have an annual production capacity of 40 gigawatt hours.
The batteries produced at the new facility will be supplied to Stellantis assembly plants throughout the U.S., Canada and Mexico for installation in next-generation electric vehicles ranging from plug-in hybrids to full battery electric vehicles that will be sold under the Stellantis family of brands.
“Today’s announcement is further proof that we are deploying our aggressive electrification road map and are following through on the commitments we made during our EV Day event in July,” said Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis. “With this, we have now determined the next ‘gigafactory’ coming to the Stellantis portfolio to help us achieve a total minimum of 260 gigawatt hours of capacity by 2030. I want to warmly thank each person involved in this strategic project. Together, we will lead the industry with benchmark efficiencies and deliver electrified vehicles that ignite passion.”
“Establishing a joint venture with Stellantis will be a monumental milestone in our long-standing partnership,” said Jong-hyun Kim, President and CEO of LG Energy Solution. “LGES will position itself as a provider of battery solutions to our prospective customers in the region by utilizing our collective, unique technical skills and mass-producing capabilities.”
The partnership between the two companies in electrified vehicles dates back to 2014 when LG Energy Solution (then LG Chem) was selected by Stellantis (then Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) to supply the lithium-ion battery pack system and controls for the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the industry’s first electrified minivan. With this announcement, the two companies look to solidify their partnership even further and continue leveraging each other’s strengths.
Stellantis plans to invest more than €30 billion through 2025 in electrification and software development, while targeting to continue to be 30 percent more efficient than the industry with respect to total Capex and R&D spend versus revenues.
The location of the new facility is currently under review and further details will be shared at a later date. The groundbreaking for the facility is expected to take place in the second quarter of 2022.
The transaction is subject to agreement on definitive documentation and customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals.
Nuvve GIVe V2G For 1st Quasar DC Bi-Directional Charging
Wallbox N.V. (NYSE: WBX) and Nuvve Holding Corp. (Nasdaq: NVVE), announced a first of its kind vehicle-to-grid (V2G) partnership in Iberia designed to reduce mounting pressure on the grid and offer users significant financial incentives.
The partnership will incorporate Wallbox’s pioneering hardware, Quasar, the world’s first DC bidirectional home charger, into Nuvve’s patented V2G software technology, GIVe™. The partnership comes at an opportune time, when pressure on the grid is rapidly rising in the Iberian peninsula, where household energy prices have risen by 35% over the past year.
Nuvve’s GIVe™ platform intelligently tracks and identifies the optimal time for a user to charge their electric vehicle (EV), prioritizing charging during low tariff periods. The integration with Wallbox’s two-way charger is designed to give the added flexibility to store energy and discharge excess energy from an EV’s battery back to the grid and assist in reducing rising grid pressure. Cooperating in V2G can provide users access to significant financial incentives, which can be worth upwards of 500 Euros a year.
In addition to reducing energy costs, Nuvve’s V2G technology can help users transition to a more sustainable lifestyle by helping minimize their carbon footprint. By optimizing the charge and discharge based off the CO2 intensity, users can help offset CO2 emission by an average of 250kg per car per year. To put this in perspective, regular one-way charging with no time of use optimization can result in approximately 1000kg of CO2 emissions per vehicle per year to be emitted, compared to an actual savings achieved through V2G charging. The delta is significant and allows customers participating in V2G to be net negative in their CO2 emissions.
“Quasar was engineered to transform electric vehicles into powerful energy sources to both reduce mounting pressure on the grid and to give EV drivers more control over how they consume power – our partnership with Nuvve marks an important milestone in making this sophisticated technology accessible to users everywhere,” said Eduard Castañeda, CPO and co-founder of Wallbox.
“Building on our experience with Wallbox for the E-Flex project in the United Kingdom, this new collaboration on their award-winning Quasar product helps extend the positive benefits of V2G to the Iberian peninsula, furthering the reach of V2G in Europe,” said Christian Blom, director of European operations for Nuvve. “Giving residents access to this cutting-edge technology allows EV users to multiply the positive effects of their investment in zero emission vehicles and contribute to a cleaner planet.”
EV Ambulance Demers eFX
Demers Ambulances, a leading North American manufacturer of ambulance vehicles and The Lion Electric Company (NYSE: LEV) (TSX: LEV) (“Lion” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of all-electric medium and heavy-duty urban vehicles, unveiled today the Demers eFX Ambulance, the first all-electric and purpose-built ambulance.
This new model of ambulances, scheduled to be commercialized in the second half of 2022, was developed with the support of the government of Quebec and the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP). It is the result of nearly five years of collaborative work carried out by Demers Ambulances and Lion, which also involved direct input from many paramedic technicians and emergency medical service companies. The Demers eFX Ambulance is the first ambulance designed according to the needs expressed by paramedics.
The Lion5 chassis of the Demers eFX Ambulance will be assembled in Saint-Jérôme by Lion, while the medical compartment and final assembly will be carried out by Demers Ambulances in Beloeil. The new 100% electric ambulance will be sold throughout North America, and eventually worldwide, as ambulances sold by Demers and its affiliated brands are already in service in 43 countries. This exclusive mutual agreement between Lion and Demers contemplates the deployment of at least 1,500 100% electric ambulances over the next five years by Demers Ambulances.
A Major Evolution, Beyond the Zero-emission Vision
In addition to being a pioneer in the energy transition of ambulance transport, the purpose-built electric ambulance will also make it possible to achieve significant gains in the ergonomics, safety and efficiency of paramedics, in addition to improving their overall comfort and that of their patients.
In an industry first, the ambulance will be equipped with a custom-designed chassis for use as an ambulance. The research and development teams of Demers Ambulances and Lion have completely redesigned the living space of the two sections of the vehicle and rethought the ergonomics and layout of the ambulance as we know it.
Some of the main challenges that paramedic technicians frequently face are the ability to maneuver freely while the ambulance is in motion to provide care to the patient while.
Tritium Wins Award
-As charging infrastructure becomes more critical in enabling electric vehicle (EV) adoption, Tritium, a leader in direct current (DC) fast charging, has been awarded for its achievements in product and engineering design. The Australian Good Design Awards committee has recognized the company and its RTM fast charger in the engineering and product design categories for the commercial and industrial sectors.
“The overall design and engineering of this product is very well considered. The charging system has multiple benefits — single technician installation, slim-line profile, fast charge (75km range in 10 minutes),” commented the Good Design Awards engineering design jury. “The RTM EV charger design is a good example of clean, sophisticated and functional design and engineering that will help reduce a key barrier to EV market expansion. Really impressive project and a standout example of good design in this category that deserves to be recognised. Well done.”
The RTM is a modular and upgradeable DC fast charger capable of rapidly powering more than one EV of any model at a time. The charger gives businesses the flexibility of a charger that can scale from 25kW to 50kW and 75kW.
“A clean aesthetic and well considered design. The installation time of only 2 hours is impressive, as is the consideration of the user experience with the visual display and slimline design,” said the Good Design Awards product design jury. “It’s fast, easy to use and customisable. It will be an increasingly important and sought-after product as EVs gain traction in the market. A clean design that complements the functionality of the unit very well.”
The Australian Good Design Awards are one of the longest-running international design awards, promoting excellence in design and innovation since 1958. Recognized by the World Design Organization (WDO) as Australia’s peak international design endorsement and promotion program, these awards represent the diverse spectrum of design with 12 specific design disciplines covering more than 30 categories and sub-categories.
“We are excited to receive these awards as it validates Tritium’s industry-leading product design and Modular Scalable Charging architecture, which was launched in 2020,” said Tritium CEO Jane Hunter. “To achieve widespread adoption of electric transportation, there needs to be infrastructure in place that not only makes charging a vehicle convenient, but financially beneficial for the site owner. With our product design, we give our customers truly scalable technology that grows with their site.”
Each year, the program attracts new and innovative design projects worldwide, celebrating the best in all areas of design, architecture, engineering, research, and social innovation.
“Receiving an Australian Good Design Award is testament to embedding design excellence at the heart of a product, service, place or experience. Although 2021 continues to be another challenging year, it is incredibly inspiring to see designers and businesses working together to find innovative, customer-centric design solutions to local and global challenges and to see them recognised and rewarded for their efforts through these prestigious Awards,” said Dr. Brandon Gien, CEO of Good Design Australia. “The importance of embracing good design principles is now more important than ever as many businesses around the world have had to completely re-think their business strategies to remain competitive. The standard of design excellence represented in this year’s Awards is the best I’ve ever seen in my 25 years of running these Awards, an encouraging sign that the design sector is flourishing.”
With installation in under two hours, single-person field serviceability, DC meter data insights, and many customization options available, the RTM fast charger helps reduce setup, operation, and maintenance costs to increase our customers’ return on investment. The RTM also provides a fast charge and improves the refueling experience with driver-friendly features like intuitive screen flows and charger statistics, and Plug and Charge which enables EVs and chargers to communicate, authenticate, and transact via the charging cable, eliminating the need for a credit card reader, RFID card or QR Code. The award-winning RTM design is expected to be carried through Tritium’s upcoming products with the same thoughtfully designed enclosure and common components.
FF Welcomes Mayor & Shows off Production
Faraday Future Intelligent Electric Inc. (“FF”) (NASDAQ: FFIE), a California-based global shared intelligent electric mobility ecosystem company, recently welcomed Hanford Mayor Francisco Ramirez and City Manager Mario Cifuentez to its production facility in the Central Valley of California to share current and future progress updates related to its production plans. FF invited the local officials as a part of a recent executive update session at its Hanford plant that detailed upcoming milestones in its manufacturing process for the ultimate intelligent techluxury FF 91 EV. FF remains on-target to launch the FF 91 in July 2022.
“I want to thank FF for giving me a very straightforward and thorough update tour of their FF 91 factory here in Hanford last week. I was able to see firsthand just how far they have come in a short time and also hear about their strategic milestones, including local hiring plans, as they ramp up to fully complete their production facility in the coming months,” said Hanford Mayor Ramirez. “This facility will be a first-rate production hub for their vehicles and will allow local qualified residents to be part of the workforce they are bringing in now and the near future to help deliver the FF 91 to the market next summer.”
The FF 91 production goals are modest, focusing on smaller volume and specific clientele, ensuring a smooth roll out of the FF 91 and future vehicles. FF’s Hanford facility will adopt a bespoke, high-quality, luxury-focused production setup for its flagship FF 91 EV, engineered and designed for superior craftsmanship befitting FF’s exclusive, high-end, luxury vehicles. This is one of the many FF differentiators compared to traditional OEM mass production.
“FF represents a true anchor on which to attract additional technology and EV companies. The Economic Development Corp. (EDC) was involved in helping to recruit FF to Kings County, and we have maintained a positive relationship with the company,” said Kings County EDC President Lance Lippincott. “We are confident their success will encourage suppliers and other businesses to locate in Kings County. We are ready to help them be successful.”
The FF 91 Futurist Alliance Edition and FF 91 Futurist models represent the next generation of intelligent techluxury EVs. They are high-performance EVs, all-in-one all-ability cars, and ultimate robotic vehicles that allow users to experience a third internet living space beyond their home and office. The models encompass extreme technology, an ultimate user experience and a complete ecosystem. Users can reserve an FF 91 Futurist model now via the FF intelligent APP or FF.com at: https://www.ff.com/us/reserve///
New Cathodes & Anodes from BASF
Electromobility is globally recognized as a decisive factor for achieving climate neutrality. High-performance lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles play a key role to reach these goals. BASF is a leading player in the battery materials market focusing on high-performance cathode active materials (CAM) and anode binders for both standard tasks and tailored solutions, operating production facilities all around the globe. To enhance the performance of lithium ion-batteries in terms of increased range and reduced charging time, BASF collaborates with its academic network to further develop its smart materials and production processes with reduced CO2 footprint.
One potential solution for enhancing capacity and production efficiency of lithium-ion batteries is to subdivide electrodes into dedicated functional layers. For example, a thin primer layer below the actual active anode helps to improve adhesion performance. At the same time, the overall binder content is reduced, resulting in higher energy density. Application via simultaneous multilayer coating skips additional process steps that would increase costs and wastage. Both, academia and some first battery manufacturers are beginning to explore this approach. However, the potential range of coating formulations which can be combined is yet unknown.
To address this issue, BASF and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) joined forces to investigate the formulation boundary conditions in multilayer battery coatings within a research project supported by public co-funding. This research project is part of the “Batterie 2020 Transfer” research cluster initiated by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The goal of the joint project is to design a fully established formulation and coating model for multilayered battery coatings. While BASF specialists provide their formulation experience as well as know-how in application tests for defining the range of potentially combinable functional layers, KIT experts will implement those into and expand existing coating stability models.
“This joint research project is a great opportunity to deepen our knowledge in formulation and processing of battery coatings and to elaborate technical fundamentals for future battery product design. At BASF, we strongly encourage collaboration with external research partners in this exciting battery materials research area.” said Prof. Frank Kleine Jäger, Vice President Solids Formulation and Handling at BASF. “By applying several functional layers at once, we can meet the demanding requirements of tomorrow’s lithium-ion batteries.” explained Prof. Wilhelm Schabel, who leads the participating group “Thin Film Technology” at KIT. “With BASF as a complementary partner in this project, we are confident about extending the theories of multilayer coating by this major step,” added Dr. Philip Scharfer, co-head of the KIT research group.
“This joint research project is a great example of our profound expertise in the field of battery binders. And we are not standing still here: Knowing that electrode performance is a huge topic for our customers, we establish strategic development partnerships with other dedicated experts to serve our customers’ needs.” concluded Prof. Thomas Schiele, Vice President Adhesives, Fiber Bonding and Paper Coating Chemicals at BASF SE.
Compass Brines Lithium
-Compass Minerals (NYSE: CMP), a leading global provider of essential minerals, today announced the successful, third-party conversion testing of its lithium brine resource into both lithium carbonate and battery-grade lithium hydroxide, representing a significant milestone in its previously announced lithium development project.
The company engaged Veolia Energy, an established technology provider, to conduct lithium chloride to lithium hydroxide conversion testing utilizing a proven, commercially viable conversion process. The company believes this is the first known conversion to battery-grade lithium hydroxide from the sustainable lithium brine resource originating from the Great Salt Lake.
At a concentration of >56.5% lithium hydroxide monohydrate, the conversion sample meets established battery-grade specifications for the U.S. domestic electric vehicle (EV) and energy storage markets. Compass Minerals believes this achievement, and the resulting supply it is expected to help enable, is critical for U.S. domestic production of advanced battery materials and support of a growing domestic EV fleet. As previously disclosed, the company expects to enter the market with a battery-grade lithium hydroxide product by 2025.
“When we first announced the identification of a readily available, 2.4 million ton lithium brine resource, we emphasized that we are evaluating multiple paths forward for development, potential partnerships, and product selection to ensure optimal shareholder value. While that work continues, our progress to date puts us firmly on track for market entry with a battery-grade lithium product by 2025,” said Kevin S. Crutchfield, president and CEO. “As we continue to assess potential DLE technology partners and commercial opportunities, we remain committed to responsible stewardship of this exciting and sustainable resource. We look forward to providing future updates as we achieve additional milestones in the coming months.”
Compass Minerals also announced today that Chris Yandell will be joining the company as head of lithium, effective Nov. 8, 2021. In this senior management role, Yandell will lead the development and implementation and coordinate the strategic direction for the company’s lithium business.
Yandell brings broad-based leadership experience in operations, commercial, supply-chain and strategic planning, having served the last 15 years in varying roles of increasing responsibility with Albemarle Corporation, a global specialty chemicals company and producer of lithium, bromine and Catalyst solutions. Most recently with Albemarle, he served as chief commercial officer for refining catalysts and previously as vice president of lithium operations. Prior to his time at Albemarle, he served in operations and engineering positions with Praxair, Inc., since acquired by Linde plc, and BASF. A former non-commissioned officer in the U.S. Marine Corps, Yandell earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering and Master of Business Administration, both from Louisiana State University.
SEA Electric Gets Order 1K
Global transport innovator SEA Electric has taken a significant step forward in the USA, with confirmation of an order for over 1,000 SEA Hino M5 EVs, the single largest order in the company’s history.
Set to be delivered to GATR EV (a division of GATR Truck Centers), the zero-emissions trucks will feature the patented SEA-Drive(R) Power System, which offers market-leading performance and range potential.
The SEA Electric offering of pure-electric systems is adaptable to most OEM glider chassis platforms, from Class 3 to Class 8.
Headquartered in Los Angeles, CA, SEA Electric has been making major waves in the North American market over the past 18 months, establishing a nationwide network of technology partners, plus collaborations with leading OEMs.
The SEA M5 EV model featured at the recent ACT Expo in Long Beach, CA, complete with the SEA-Drive(R) 120a Power System, which is specified for truck platforms with a GVWR of 13,000lbs to 19,500lbs (Class 3-5).
The package features a 1,106lb-ft electric motor in combination with a 138 kWh battery pack.
“This deal is the culmination of years of research, development and growth, and proves that SEA Electric is on track to be number one when it comes to electrifying fleets across the world,” said Mike Menyhart, SEA Electric President – Americas and Chief Strategy Officer.
“The market is looking for a proven EV solution, and with SEA Electric, we bring that to the industry technology which has been verified with millions of miles of real-world use.
“Furthermore, this announcement reaffirms our commitment to continue our rapid expansion within the North American market, and sets the scene for an exciting 2022.”
For SEA Electric, the milestone far exceeds the previous benchmark order for the company.
“This is our first four-digit order, and it comes in a non-incentive state, which proves that commercial EV solutions can expand in areas with no incentives, while all corners of the market are seeking premium EV solutions,” said Nick Casas, SEA Electric Vice President of Sales & Marketing.
“GATR should be congratulated for being at the forefront of EV supply and being capable of servicing the needs of large fleets immediately.
“GATR has a partnership with Merchants Fleet, which will benefit the end-user, who will not only be able to access an electric solution straight away, but will be able to transact with one of the most respected leasing companies in the USA.”
The deal enhances Merchants” robust commitment to the acceleration of fleet electrification throughout North America. As the nation’s fastest growing fleet management company, Merchants Fleet has committed more than $2B toward having 50% of its mobility fleet electric by 2025 and 50% of its clients’ fleet electric by 2030. The company has also launched an innovative Adopt EV program, designed to help guide businesses through each step of the fleet electrification process-from assessing needs, to purchasing the right vehicles, to charging options and infrastructure support.
GATR Truck Center, which features five dealerships throughout Iowa and Minnesota, currently has an e-commerce system in development to sell purely electric vehicles.
The first 40 vehicles are expected to be delivered by the end of December 2021, with the remaining vehicles to be delivered throughout 2022.
“GATR EV is excited to be at the forefront of launching electric vehicles into the transportation industry,” said Jay Klemp, Director of Sales at GATR EV ( a division of GATR Truck Centers).
“Because of this strategic partnership, we can build enough quantity of these Hino trucks to provide demonstration vehicles, and also solutions to our future fleet partners.”/
VW ID.4 Hankook Tires Don’t Retire
Global leading tire company Hankook Tire has successfully completed the “Volkswagen ID.4: Great Roadshow through the U.S.” with its electric vehicle-specific tire Kinergy AS EV. The tour team has newly set a Guinness World Records title for the longest journey by electric car (non-solar) in a single country with an EV, breaking the previous record set in 2019.
From July 13 to October 18, the new electric car from Volkswagen, VW ID.4 EV, traveled across all 48 contiguous U.S. states in all-electric mode. Long-distance driver Rainer Zietlow, who had been a part of the “Volkswagen ID.3 Germany Tour” last year, joined again to create another legacy with photographer Derek Collins sitting next to him. Hankook Tire, which also sponsored last year’s Germany Tour by supplying its tires, once again supported the success of the USA tour by fitting its Kinergy AS EV tires in size 235/55R19 on the front and 255/50R19 on the rear.
The tour started at VW headquarters in Herndon, Virginia where it made its way through the northern part of the U.S. to the West Coast. The VW ID.4 visited 622 Volkswagen dealerships and three Hankook Tire dealerships along the way: Tire Rack in South Bend, Ind., Discount Tire in Phoenix, Ariz., and Les Schwab in Redmond, Ore. It also visited the Hankook Tennessee Plant in Clarksville, Tenn. before crossing back via a southern route to reach Volkswagen Group of America’s Virginia facility as its final destination. The travelers made 208 stops at Electrify America charging stations by the time the tour ended.
Upon the arrival at the last stop, Guinness World Records announced that the team was awarded the title for the longest continuous journey by electric vehicle (nonsolar) in a single country. It broke the previous record set by “Volkswagen ID.3 Germany Tour” by bypassing the driven mileage by more than double.
“Breaking this record is a testament to the reliability of the VW ID.4 and Hankook’s Kinergy AS EV tires, which provided low rolling resistance and enabled me to stop at fewer charging stations and drive this tour with confidence,” said Rainer Zietlow, driver and founder of Challenge4. “From the desert terrain in Nevada to the heavy rain in Oregon and windy parts of the Midwest, Hankook’s Kinergy AS EV tires provided the grip I needed and superior stability and handling making their performance imperative to the success of this tour.”
Hankook Tire’s Kinergy AS EV, which was mounted on the vehicle throughout the entire trip, is a tire equipped with top-tier technology to complement the unique characteristics of EVs. It provides a hyper-low noise environment optimized for EVs by applying techniques that reduce the noise produced from the tire and the road. Its special block design pattern offers supreme driving performance on par with ultra-high-performance tires while the tread maintains optimum grip force to deliver the high instant torque of an electric motor to the road without loss. Furthermore, a new compound and silica reinforcement with increased dispersibility improves wear resistance.
“As a long-term Challenge4 and Volkswagen tire partner, Hankook Tire is very proud to be part of the record-breaking moment and we would like to congratulate the team on this new accomplishment,” said Sooil Lee, President and CEO of Hankook Tire & Technology. “Understanding that this journey would require tires that can withstand the most diverse conditions across different parts of the country, we were confident about taking on this role with our EV-dedicated tire as it’s capable of providing exceptional grip and handling as well as improved durability with low rolling resistance.”
Hankook Tire has steadily increased its presence in the tire segment for electric vehicles through forward-looking investments in R&D and the use of leading technology. The company is not only equipping leading EVs with its Kinergy AS EV as well as Ventus S1 evo 3 ev tires, but also is selected as the exclusive tire supplier for the “ABB FIA Formula E World Series” from the 2022/23 season onwards, where the new, fully electric, third-generation racing cars will compete around the world in their own FIA World Championship.
StoreDot Extreme Fast Charging & Solid-State Batteries
StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast charging (XFC) technology for electric vehicles, continues its global expansion and the development of future solid-state batteries with the opening of an R&D innovation hub in California, USA.
The new US-based innovation hub is being established to help StoreDot in its mission to promote a zero-emissions world, providing automotive battery technologies that will significantly enhance the electrified vehicle ownership experience, eradicating range anxiety. It will work alongside StoreDot’s Israel-based R&D headquarters, enabling its revolutionary XFC automotive battery technologies to be mass produced by 2024. It will also immediately commence research into next-generation extreme energy density (XED) solid-state capabilities and materials, with the aim of scaling-up these advanced technologies for mass production by 2028.
Dr Doron Myersdorf, StoreDot CEO “This new US R&D innovation hub signals that our business is rapidly expanding, as we are scaling up our extreme fast charging technologies. Establishing a facility in California will allow us to harness the world-class talent pool that’s available there, with many people and organizations at the forefront of next-generation advancements. This will bolster the development of our world leading XFC technologies and onto XED solid-state batteries. We are also actively considering establishing a manufacturing partnership in the US, as it’s essential that major automotive manufacturing centers have captive capacity, redressing the current imbalance in favor of Asian manufacturers and making batteries where electric vehicles are made.”
“Our new US team will work in tandem with our rapidly expanding global network bringing new skills and ideas in order that we can execute our clear technology roadmap, enabling automotive manufacturers to develop vehicles that overcome range and charging anxiety.”
StoreDot is now in advanced discussions with many of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers and is already shipping samples for real world testing.
About StoreDot:
StoreDot is a pioneer and leader of extreme fast charging (XFC) batteries that overcome the critical barrier to mainstream EV adoption – range and charging anxiety. The company has revolutionized the conventional Li-ion battery by designing and synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds, making it possible to fully charge an EV in just five minutes – the same time it takes to refuel a conventional combustion engine vehicle. StoreDot’s battery technology is optimized for best driver experience with XFC in Li-ion batteries, as well as future technologies for extreme energy-density (XED).StoreDot’s strategic investors include BP, Daimler, Samsung Ventures and TDK. In 2019, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating the live full charge of a two-wheeled EV in just five minutes. In 2020, the company demonstrated the scalability of its XFC batteries for other industries, by fully charging a commercial drone in five minutes in another world first. Moving XFC battery technology from the lab to a commercially-viable product for the first time, StoreDot has launched engineering samples of its first-generation batteries that are designed to be manufactured at scale on traditional Li-ion production lines.