Polestar 5 prototype charges from 10-80% in just 10 minutes

Polestar and battery specialist StoreDot have charged a prototype Polestar 5 in just 10 minutes using StoreDot’s XFC technology.

The test is the first time that StoreDot’s radical Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) system has been demonstrated in a driveable vehicle and follows years of lab-based testing by StoreDot.

Using the common 10-80% standard, the fully driveable verification prototype saw a consistent charge rate starting at 310 kW and rising to a peak in excess of 370 kW at the end of charging, taking just 10 minutes to complete the charge.

The specially commissioned 77 kWh battery pack – which has the potential to be increased to at least 100 kWh, could add 200 miles (320 km) of range to a mid-sized electric car in 10 minutes.

The test was intended to demonstrate proof-of-concept for XFC battery technology that could be applied to future Polestar vehicles. It showed that the XFC technology works with existing DC charging and can sustain very high charging speeds across the charging time, something that some batteries currently struggle with.

StoreDot’s ambition is to develop a commercially viable battery than can add 100 miles of range in as little as three minutes. Prior to the Polestar test, it demonstrated the ability to add 100 miles of charge in just four minutes in a small-form battery.

Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, said: “Time is one of life’s greatest luxuries, and as a manufacturer of luxury electric performance cars, we need to take the next step to address one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership – charging anxiety. With this new technology, on longer journeys when drivers do stop they’ll be able to spend less time charging and be back on the road faster than before. In fact, that stop time will be more akin to what they experience with a petrol car today.”

Dr Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot, added: “We are very excited to share this impressive achievement today and proud to be on this journey with Polestar. Polestar’s commitment acknowledges that extreme fast charging technology is necessary to make widespread electric car adoption a reality. This breakthrough revolutionises ownership by eradicating the barrier of range and charging anxiety once and for all as drivers will be able to travel long distances with the same freedom and convenience as traditional fossil fuel-powered vehicles.”