Solid-State Batteries Hit the Road: Stellantis Begins Real-World EV Testing

Stellantis and Factorial Energy have integrated solid-state battery cells into a Dodge Charger Daytona for the first time, launching a road-testing program that marks a turning point for next-generation EV technology.

The long-promised solid-state battery revolution just crossed from the lab to the asphalt.

Stellantis and Massachusetts-based Factorial Energy have integrated solid-state battery cells into a Dodge Charger Daytona development vehicle and launched a real-world road-testing program — the first time solid-state batteries have powered an electric vehicle on North American roads.

The breakthrough uses Factorial's FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology), which combines a lithium-metal anode with a polymer separator. The cells deliver an energy density of 375 watt-hours per kilogram — roughly 50 percent higher than today's best lithium-ion packs — and charge from 15 to 90 percent in just 18 minutes. They also maintain performance across a brutal temperature range, from -30°C to 45°C (-22°F to 113°F), with a discharge rate of up to 4C.

The partners previously validated 77 amp-hour FEST cells through more than 600 charge cycles. Now the technology faces the ultimate test: potholes, weather, and the unforgiving daily grind of actual driving.

For an industry that has spent years promising solid-state miracles "in a few more years," the Stellantis-Factorial road test represents a tangible inflection point. The technology promises longer range, faster charging, lower fire risk, and potentially cheaper batteries — all without the liquid electrolytes that make today's EV batteries heavy and volatile.

Stellantis is not alone in the race. Toyota, Hyundai, and China's CATL are all pushing toward commercial solid-state production, but seeing cells actually spinning wheels on public roads shifts the conversation from hypothetical to here-and-now. The question is no longer whether solid-state batteries work — it's how soon they'll show up in your driveway.

Sources: Electrek, electrive.com, Car and Driver