Flex-N-Gate and ‘extreme-fast charging’ battery company StoreDot have announced a partnership that will see the Israeli firm use Windsor’s Flex-Ion Battery and Innovation Centre to begin producing cells that can recharge capacity in minutes.
“This is an exciting and significant agreement which further supports and enhances our path to OEM commercialization,” said StoreDot chief operating officer Amir Tirosh.
“Working with Flex-N-Gate, a tier-one manufacturer and global leader in mass-scale automotive component production, opens vast new opportunities for StoreDot in the North American market, including the ability to localize its cell production.
“The collaboration allows us to serve the needs of local OEMs, building upon our recently established California research and development facility.”
Samples of StoreDot’s 100in5 battery cells will begin production next year at Flex-lon’s lithium-ion cell pilot factory while working with local automotive OEMs to produce cells with specified performance and formats.
Founded in 2012, StoreDot has built a global network of partnerships and investors including leading OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), other manufacturers, and electronics firms such as Daimler, Samsung, Ola Electric, Polestar, VinFast, TDK, EVE Energy and Volvo.
“We are honoured and excited to collaborate with StoreDot, an acknowledged innovation leader in the EV battery space,” said Flex-N-Gate’s vice-president of engineering Guido Benvenuto.
“Producing extreme-fast charging battery cells at giga-scale is a key competitive requirement in the electric vehicle industry. Applying our mass production manufacturing expertise to StoreDot’s cutting-edge technologies will create an ideal framework to establish world-class cell manufacturing facilities.
“Early next year, cells will be produced at Flex-Ion’s pilot plant in Windsor where we have established the capacity and flexibility to service the needs of the automotive industry.”
StoreDot states it has improved the conventional Li-ion battery by synthesizing proprietary organic and inorganic compounds through the use of artificial intelligence algorithms and silicon nanoparticles.
In 2022, the company achieved a world first by demonstrating a live extreme-fast charging of an EV battery cell in 10 minutes.
Company officials expect to be producing battery technology which will deliver 100 miles charged in three minutes by 2028 and an extreme-energy density solution enabling 100 miles charged in two minutes by 2032.
StoreDot’s rapid charging breakthroughs earned it recognition last year from DISRUPT 100 as the most disruptive company in the world. DISRUPT 100 is a bi-annual index compiled by leading entrepreneurs, investors and businesspeople which tracks and ranks the global companies shaping the future.
“Our 100in5 battery cells are already being tested by electric vehicle manufacturers,” Tirosh said.
“This strategic agreement gives us ability to scale up rapidly to mass production and flexibility to produce OEM Li-ion battery cells at the scale and in the form factors required by this burgeoning industry.
“Enabling owners to charge their cars safely in minutes is no longer an option, as range and charging anxiety remain the main barriers for mass EV adoption.
“We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with Flex-N-Gate as we roll out the XFC revolution together.”