Image Credit: Stellantis
European car giant Stellantis will launch a fleet of new Dodge Charger Daytona electric vehicles (EVs) in 2026 which will be equipped with solid-state batteries from Factorial.
Stellantis and Factorial first partnered in late 2021 to jointly develop solid-state batteries for EVs, with a focus on advancing Factorial’s high-voltage traction solid-state battery technology. Stellantis also invested $US75 million in the Massachusetts headquartered company.
The demonstration fleet would enable the validation of Factorial’s technology and assessment of its real-world driving performance.
The Daytonas will be equipped with cells based on Factorial’s proprietary FEST solid-state battery technology, which delivers a specific energy density of over 390Wh/kg and offers a number of advantages over traditional lithium-ion batteries.
These include higher energy density, reduced weight, improved performance, and the potential for further reduction in total vehicle cost over time.
“We believe solid-state technology can play a crucial role in enabling the next generation of EVs with improved performance and reduced costs,” said Siyu Huang, Factorial’s CEO and co-founder.
Stellantis will build the fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles on its STLA Large multi-energy platform due, reportedly, on the platforms “focus on high-volume electric SUVs and performance vehicles.”
The STLA Large platform is used by Stellantis brands such as Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati.
“This demonstration fleet is an important milestone in our partnership with Factorial,” said Ned Curic, chief engineering and technology officer at Stellantis.
“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.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.
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Will be interesting to know more in 2026. Particularly battery cost, charge rates, and vehicle price if delivery is later in 2026. Just my own opinion, not very attractive shape for a large vehicle?
So, they are going to resurrect the Valiant Charger, as a BEV, like the DeLorean is supposed to be being resurrected as a BEV?
Now, if Stellantis would put the solid state batteries in its light vans, like the Citroen e-Berlingo and the Peugeot e-Partner, and, in their MPV versions - the Citroen e-Berlingo 5 and 7 seaters, and the Peugeot e-Rifter 5 and 7 seaters, to increase their ranges, and, bring them out to Australia, that would be a development worth reporting.
But, Stellantis does treat Australians like faeces, which is why they prohibit us from buying and driving their light van MPV models; the Citroen e-Berlingo 5 and 7 seaters, and the Peugeot e-Rifter 5 and 7 seaters, which would be ideal for Australia, if Stellantis did not so treat us.
Frankly retrofitting some of the models you mention with these batteries and putting them into real world use could easily be a better test.
An interesting aspect to your point, is that I have seen youtube videos of quick replacements/upgrades of batteries (less than an hour; less than half an hour, I think, apart from the initial charging), so that cars like the Nissan Leaf, suddenly get alot more range, with newer battery technology. I do not know of the cost of replacing batteries on BEV's, but, with battery technology being progressively enhanced, replacing batteries with smaller, greater capacity batteries, should do wonders for overcoming the "range anxiety", and, for enhancing BEV's, and, should also mean that, for small light vans, like the BYD T3 and the Nissan evN200 (?), the range and life expectancy could be significantly enhanced. It could also mean the replacement of NCM (or NMC?) batteries, with superior batteries, for longer ranges and longer life expectancies of vehicles.
Actually I believe that Stellantis has poorly chosen its distributor. Very limited advertising and promotion, very narrow model range, and we get new Peugeot models long after they have been delivered in RHD markets like the UK. Get a new distributor.
“We believe solid-state technology can play a crucial role in enabling the next generation of EVs..."
Yeah so does Toyota, apparently.
Doesn't Toyota regard the hilux as a BEV, due to it having a battery in it?
no
I think most of these long time car producers are now just living in a world that just does not exist any more! Jim Farley the boss of Ford in the US went to China and he has nothing but praise for what they have done. like it or not, as he said, they started on the ev road over a decade ago, and nobody in the west seemed to take any notice --until the s--t hit the fan. Now everyone is in panic mode to try and catch up. Tariffs etc in the US and in Europe. All car manufactures get heaps of incentives from their governments, so that argument is a bit thin. Jim was right, we just missed the boat!
However with his skunkworks program I think they may just have a chance to catch up. Seeing the US is now heavily protected by the government with imports etc. The next thing is the ability to manufacture batteries in the US with 'friendly' help. Should be interesting to see what happens in the next 5 years.
Yeah, Jimbo is definitely onboard and sees the need to transition to EVs but has responsibilities as a CEO to its shareholders to make respectable profits, so it takes time. I wish Ford well, thinking of talking the wife into a Mach-E now that the hybrid lexus is out of lease. Not many medium to large EV SUVs have traditional buttons and stalks. Probably a 6 month wait to see what the Chinese bring out here and what happens to the model Y and pricing in general.
It won't be cost or performance.
This will be worse than what Tesla or Rimac or [insert German brand] can do, so they really are doing a classic OEM approach to this and focusing on completely the wrong things.
"Our sales show that people do not want EVs"
Ohhh, that's what the intent here...
people DO want evs and will want them in the future as well, and that is that. Come back to me in 5 years and prove to me I was wrong.