Toyota and Agri SA celebrate farming sector
Toyota South Africa Motors (TSAM) once again took centre stage in celebrating the resilience, determination and innovation within South Africa’s agricultural sector.
- Industry News
- 25 November 2024
Israeli company, StoreDot, the pioneer of extreme fast-charging (XFC) battery technology, announced from its headquarters in Herzliya on 13 April that the company will soon be manufacturing silicon batteries that will enable car makers to design and produce cheaper, lighter and more sustainable electric vehicles (EVs).
With the optimal driver experience of extreme fast charging in mind, StoreDot’s technology has reached sufficient charging and discharging cycles that it will enable vehicle manufacturers to include a smaller battery pack. Smaller packs with XFC translate into improved EV specifications, including better car efficiency, increased utilisation of regenerative braking, reduced carbon footprint and lower costs. As a result, such affordable and lighter EVs will serve a broader audience and further enhance the adoption of and transition to EVs.
StoreDot is now on track to deliver its 100-in-5 silicon-dominant extreme fast-charging batteries to EV OEMs by next year. This transformative technology will deliver 100 miles, or 160 km of range in just five minutes of charge. As a result, EV drivers will no longer need to worry about the range between charges, or charging times, allowing car makers to re-evaluate the specifications of electric vehicles. With StoreDot’s XFC technology, OEMs will be able to optimise a vehicle’s weight and cost, rather than push for ever-greater range and battery size.
Downsizing from an average premium vehicle requiring an 80kWh to a 50kWh battery pack could lop off approximately 200kg from the EV’s weight (the equivalent weight of 3-4 people) and importantly, could reduce the build cost of the car by $4,500, depending on metal cost fluctuations and energy density improvements*. The environmental impact of such a design change will be highly significant too as it will lower the number of raw materials used in each vehicle, reducing its EV carbon footprint throughout its life cycle. XFC in smaller packs also means efficient regenerative braking as it can accommodate the corresponding recuperated high currents.
“Up until recently, OEMs were increasing the size of battery packs in their EVs because a proportion of drivers were transitioning from gas to electric for the first time with the known ‘range anxiety’ in their minds. Those drivers, and anyone who is an EV advocate now realize that range anxiety is no longer the most pressing issue - and won’t even be an issue at all once public charging infrastructure around the world is properly in place,” said Doron Myersdorf, CEO of StoreDot.
Myersdorf concluded by saying: “The two remaining barriers to EV ownership are charging anxiety and cost, and StoreDot’s XFC solution was designed to assist with both. Radically reduced charging times will allow automotive manufacturers to rethink how they approach battery size and range. When charging times are no longer an issue, it makes a lot more sense to fit smaller battery packs. The cost savings could transform the accessibility of EVs and the sustainability of batteries, with better car efficiency, fewer raw materials needed and less recycling at the end of their in-vehicle life.”
StoreDot’s ground-breaking XFC battery cells are now being tested by over 15 global automotive manufacturers, while the company continues to develop its manufacturing partnerships on a global scale.
StoreDot is a developer of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles founded in 2012 by Doron Myersdorf, Simon Litsyn and Gil Rosenman. The company was initially founded around developing peptide-based mobile phone displays and data storage.
Volkswagen Group Africa has added an additional 3 megawatt (MW) solar power to its grid, bringing the total output of renewable energy to 5.9MW. This is enough energy to power at least 2 000 two-bedroom houses fitted with geysers and electrical appliances.
Volvo Car South Africa has cemented itself as a leader in the local electric vehicle segment, with combined sales totalling 467 between January and September 2024. With a three-car-strong range of cutting-edge battery-electric vehicles, Volvo is currently leading the premium electric segment, outpacing rivals in the luxury arena.
Kia recently unveiled two all-new customised concept vehicles at the 2024 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas.