Stellantis and US battery company Zeta Energy have signed an agreement to jointly develop lithium-sulfur batteries for electric vehicles. The aim is to produce batteries with a comparable volumetric energy density to todayʼs lithium-ion batteries, but with lower mass. According to Stellantis, the cells are expected to provide vehicles with a longer range.
50 percent faster charging
As part of the research, the companies aim to increase the technologyʼs charging speed by up to 50 percent. Despite the increase in performance, the cost per kilowatt-hour is expected to drop to less than half of todayʼs lithium-ion batteries. Once the project is completed, the batteries are slated to power Stellantisʼ electric vehicles starting in 2030.
Planning for large-scale production
According to both companies, the new batteries could be produced with existing factory structures. The sulfur-based cell chemistry could also eliminate the need for critical raw materials such as cobalt, manganese, or nickel. The joint development will include preparations for pre-series production as well as strategic planning for subsequent large-scale production.
