The trucks division of German mobility group Daimler has invested in Israeli firm StoreDot, in an effort to accelerate the adoption of FlashBattery technology in the electric vehicle (EV) market.
StoreDot, a Tel Aviv-based company founded in 2012, is a nanotechnology materials firm focused on the development of electric charging solutions and energy-storage materials.
FlashBattery technology, says Daimler, enables the charging of any electric vehicle within minutes, as quickly as filling a tank of petrol.
Furthermore, FlashBattery’s high efficiency in recuperation is particularly interesting for commercial vehicles. (The improved use of braking energy in an EV increases the range and requires less frequent charging of the vehicle.)
This, together with faster charging times, results in higher vehicle use.
Daimler says both companies will jointly work on tailor-made, integrated technologies, with the future-generation Fuso light-duty electric Canter truck acting as a possible application platform.
The possibility of further joint projects, beyond Daimler’s trucks division, forms part of future discussions between the two companies.
“Electrification of trucks is of top priority at Daimler,” says Daimler board of management responsible for Daimler Trucks & Buses, Martin Daum.
“[The September] global launch in New York City of the Fuso eCanter, the world’s first series-produced all-electric light-duty truck, provides impressive proof of our striving to bring electric vehicles for everyday use to the market.
“Fast charging is an important topic, especially for fleet owners of all Daimler Trucks brands. Together with StoreDot we will now jointly work on a holistic approach to fast charging.”
Having Daimler as a strategic partner “is of significant value” to StoreDot, adds StoreDot CEO and cofounder Dr Doron Myersdorf.
“It will accelerate the completion of our development process and the introduction of FlashBattery to the market.”
Earlier this year, StoreDot demonstrated the viability of a concept for the five-minute charging of EV batteries, providing a range of 480 km, showcasing how the firm’s new organic compounds, combined with nanomaterials, are implemented in the battery cell.
StoreDot’s new batteries are currently in an advanced stage of development, and are expected to be integrated into EVs that are now in design phase.