Dodge to test Charger EVs powered by solid-state batteries by 2026

Since its inception, the internal combustion engine has made significant leaps in efficiency and power. Today, thanks to these improvements, most gasoline engines in modern cars will outrun gasoline engines from the 1950s. 

Today, EVs are experiencing the same metamorphosis, with the introduction of new technologies and discoveries that make them more efficient and cost-effective compared to their predecessors. The next step in EVs is the introduction of solid-state battery cells which are said to provide better energy density that will counteract the weight problem in EVs.

Recently, Stellantis announced last Wednesday that by 2026, a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona electric sedans will be equipped with solid-state battery cells to evaluate this emerging technology. The cells will be supplied by Factorial, a battery startup that received a $75 million investment from Stellantis back in 2021.

This fleet of solid-state Chargers will serve as one of the first public trials of the new cell technology in passenger vehicles. However, Factorial's cells are unlikely to enter large-scale production for road use until they demonstrate durability comparable to or exceeding that of current battery technologies.

Going back a bit, solid-state batteries swap out the liquid electrolyte found in conventional lithium-ion batteries for solid material, allowing the use of more powerful anode materials. This results in significantly higher energy densities than current technologies. Factorial’s cells are classified as "semi-solid" technology, utilizing a "quasi-solid electrolyte" that enables the use of a lithium anode (instead of the conventional graphite) to achieve higher energy density. This setup pairs well with advanced versions of today's cobalt- and nickel-based cathodes.

One major advantage of Factorial's cells is their compatibility with existing battery manufacturing equipment, allowing current production facilities to easily adapt to these new cells without extensive retooling. This offers automakers a cost and time-saving benefit.

Stellantis has yet to release additional technical details about the Dodge Charger EV test fleet. With any luck, this trial will yield promising results for the future of EVs and hybrids. While we wait on that, you can check out Dodge Philippines’ offering here in the Philippines on AutoDeal.com.ph and get a taste of true American muscle today.