How we charged a Polestar in 10 minutes — and why it’ll change the EV landscape forever

A prototype Polestar 5 brought extreme fast charging a step closer following the successful demonstration of the company’s next-generation battery pack. Using StoreDot’s unique silicon-based cells, the test achieved charging speeds in excess of 350 kW. We spoke to Polestar Battery System Chief Engineer Jens Groot to discover how charging history was made on Sweden’s west coast.

"It's clear that charging and range anxiety are the most significant concerns that hold people back from switching to an EV," Thomas Ingenlath, Polestar CEO, told a live audience in California, United States, late last year. With charging times rapidly decreasing and ranges sometimes topping 500 kilometres (including both Polestar 3 and Polestar 4), there is no better time to own an electric vehicle than today. But despite these continuing improvements, your typical EV charging session takes more time than filling your tank at the petrol station. 

Earlier this month, Polestar made a major breakthrough following the successful demonstration of its extreme fast charging capabilities. Using special battery cells provided by StoreDot, the world's leading advanced battery provider, a team of Polestar R&D battery specialists charged a prototype Polestar 5 battery pack from 10 to 80 percent in exactly 10 minutes. "What we did this month is, I believe, a world first. For a standard vehicle without any novel cooling systems, we are looking at charging speeds I haven't seen anywhere else. We reached consistent speeds of 310-380 kW," explains Jens.

Leave a Comment