Another car brand commits to game-changing battery tech trial in 2026 following Toyota, Nissan, Chery, Mercedes-Benz, SAIC and more with solid-state batteries that could boost EV driving range beyond 1000km

Stellantis has announced it will trial potentially game-changing solid state battery technology from 2026 in Dodge’s flagship Charger. 

Thanks to battery tech company Factorial, in which Dodge invented US$75 million ($113m) in 2021, Dodge has promised it will trial a fleet of electric Charger sports sedans with solid state batteries. 

The cells in question are Factorial’s FEST which boast a power density of 391 watt hours per kilogram. For reference, that’s roughly 40 per cent more power than Tesla’s 4680 cells found in the Model Y Long Range which sit at 272Wh/kg.

Improving energy density is the golden bullet for EV driving range — less weight and more kilowatt hours in the battery have the potential to boost driving range towards 1000km in certain vehicles. 

The FEST cells are not true solid state items, only swapping the negative anode for liquid graphite to solid lithium to increase density and power, but are a proof of concept. 

The Charger’s STLA Large platform is modular, accommodating both battery electric and combustion versions. In full-fat 500kW Daytona Scat Pack guise, the electric Charger is currently capable of 418km driving range according to US EPA standards – that should easily be boosted to 600km with the new tech.

Dodge has yet to promise full scale production of the batteries, noting that solid-state technology remains untested for safety, reliability and longevity. In theory, though, solid state should provide improvements on all fronts. 

Semi-solid technology, already in smaller series production in China, where SAIC Motors and Alibaba’s joint venture IM L6 sedan has a massive 133kWh semi-solid battery pack promising 1000km of CLTC driving range and fast charge that adds 400km in 12 minutes. 

Factorial has also partnered with Mercedes-Benz with the German marque set to adopt the company’s Solstice cells that could boost driving range to 1200km. 

There are plenty of other companies competing in the race to perfect solid state battery tech. Nissan has pledged production by 2028, Chery is moving towards a big development in 2026 and GWM says it has created small cells that work and now needs to work out scaling the tech. 

The biggest company in the race, though, is Toyota. It first showed a prototype solid-state battery in 2010, though promised production dates have been pushed back from 2020 to 2027.

Don’t expect solid state batteries to be available on every affordable electric car. Current chemistries will continue to be refined and remain popular to the end of the decade, with solid-state likely to feature in high-end models such as flagship sedans, SUV and sports cars.