Israeli battery technology start-up StoreDot began shipping EV cell samples of its ‘100in5’ battery technology to strategic EV OEM and potential customers, Kallanish reports.

The company confirmed on Wednesday the 30-ampere hour pouch cells, dispatched in large EV form factor, will be intensively tested in real-world conditions. The silicon-dominant anode, lithium-ion cell technology is expected to deliver a range of 100 miles in 5 minutes of charging.

Daimler, VinFast, Volvo, Polestar and Ola Electric, which are investors of StoreDot, will all take part in the testing. Overall, more than a dozen partners, including Samsung, and potential customers will receive the samples.

Collaboration should also see the integration of programmes with automakers to accelerate production at scale, currently scheduled for 2024. Mass production is to take place first in China through a manufacturing contract with EVE Energy, but StoreDot says it’s also looking to expand its footprint globally.

Chief business officer Amir Tirosh notes this “historic moment” is the culmination of ten years of intense R&D and strong determination to eliminate range and charging anxiety.

“I’m delighted that we have now commenced intensive, real-world testing with leading OEMs and am confident that our cells will exceed OEM expectations with respect to energy density and extreme fast charging,” he says. “Current performance shows >900 consecutive extreme fast charging (10-80%) in just 10 minutes, with more than 300 Wh/kg [watt-hour per kilogram].”

The start-up expects to exceed its commercialisation milestone of 1,000 cycles this year. Its development timeframe is set at enhancing its extreme fast charging technology to 100 miles in 3 minutes charging by 2028 and 100 miles in 2 minutes by 2032.

StoreDot replaced the traditional lithium-ion graphite anode in the battery with its patented active-material nanoparticles (silicon) that accelerate ion diffusion for a quick, safe and stable charging. For the next milestone, the 100in3 upcoming technology will be a semi solid state battery with a density of around 450 Wh/kg.