Dodge Chargers with semi-solid-state batteries may hit the road in 2026

Stellantis says it volition enactment a “demonstration fleet” of Dodge Charger Daytonas on the roadworthy by 2026, equipped with solid-state artillery exertion that’s lighter, much energy-dense, and could yet marque for cheaper EVs. The institution calls the demo fleet a “key adjacent step” toward making solid-state EVs that you tin really buy.

The cars volition beryllium built connected its STLA Large EV platform, which is meant to underpin much than conscionable the Chargers it’s demoing adjacent year. If its demo is successful, there’s a accidental that cars from brands similar Maserati and Jeep volition get the caller artillery tech, too.

There’s astir apt a crushed Stellantis says “solid-state artillery technology” alternatively than simply solid-state batteries. That’s due to the fact that these Chargers volition usage semi-solid-state batteries, which means they’re inactive made with liquid electrolytes too. That hybrid attack carries benefits similar lighter value and much range, but doesn’t wholly obviate the fire risk of accepted lithium batteries.

Factorial, which makes the batteries Stellantis volition use, claims its semi-solid-state tech could propulsion EV scope up by arsenic overmuch arsenic 50 percent versus today’s electrical cars, and that the batteries person “drop-in compatibility with existing lithium-ion artillery manufacturing infrastructure,” making them cheaper and easier to nutrient than switching to afloat solid-state tech would be.

Solid-state batteries person been hard to make and not each institution has been capable to hack it. Nissan had promised it would beryllium producing “all-solid-state” EVs by 2028, but seemed to walk that backmost this year. Fisker wholly abandoned its ain efforts to marque solid-state batteries successful 2021. But Volkswagen, which was to supply Fisker’s platform, precocious announced that its batteries had passed an endurance test.

Stellantis’ announcement is simply a motion of progress, and it’s not the lone institution making some. Hyundai is simply a Factorial investor, and truthful is Mercedes, which said it would person Factorial’s semi-solid-state batteries “in EVs connected the roadworthy successful 2026,” according to Reuters. Honda plans to introduce solid-state EVs successful the second fractional of the decade, portion Toyota’s roadmap includes mass-producing solid-state batteries that alteration much than 621 miles of scope by 2028.

In China, IM Motor launched the L6, a semi-solid-state battery-driven EV, in April, portion its sister brand, MG, announced it volition unveil 1 successful Europe next year.