Factorial Energy and Stellantis — the multinational automotive manufacturing corporation formed in 2021 by the merger between the Italian-American conglomerate Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French PSA Group — have signed a joint development agreement to advance Factorial’s ‘high-voltage traction solid-state battery technology’. The agreement also includes a strategic investment from Stellantis.

Carlos Tavares, Stellantis’s CEO, said: “Our investment in Factorial and other highly recognised battery partners boosts the speed and agility needed to provide cutting-edge technology for our electric vehicle (EV) portfolio. Initiatives like these will yield a faster time to market and more cost-effective transition to solid-state technology.”

Factorial has developed ‘breakthrough solid-state technology’ that addresses key issues holding back wide-scale consumer adoption of EVs — driving range and safety. Siyu Huang, Factorial Energy’s co-founder and CEO, said: “It is a great honour to partner with Stellantis, a leading global mobility player, which has some of the most iconic auto brands in the world. It is an incredible opportunity for us to advance the adoption of our clean, efficient and safe solid-state battery technology to the mass market.”

During its ‘EV Day’ programme in July 2021, Stellantis announced its target of having ‘the first competitive solid-state battery technology introduced by 2026’. Factorial’s advances are based on FEST (factorial electrolyte system technology), which leverages a proprietary solid electrolyte material that enables safe and reliable cell performance with high-voltage and high-capacity electrodes.

FEST, which is said to be safer than conventional lithium-ion technology, extends driving range, and is drop-in compatible for easy integration into existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing infrastructure.