![Polestar shows off 5 GT charging capabilities, replenishing 10-80% in just ten minutes [Video]](https://i0.wp.com/electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/04/Polestar-5-charging-hero.jpg?resize=1200,628&quality=82&strip=all&ssl=1)
Polestar shows off 5 GT charging capabilities, replenishing 10-80% in just ten minutes [Video]
Polestar is showcasing the charging capabilities of the upcoming Polestar 5 sports sedan using a prototype model and StoreDot’s Extreme Fast Charging (XFC) technology. This is the first EV to test StoreDot’s ultra-fast charging technology, and the initial tests are quite promising.
When it arrives, the Polestar 5 will be—you guessed it—the fifth model in the Geely-owned automaker’s EV portfolio. The all-electric sports sedan’s inception stems from the Precept concept, and Polestar continues to be one of the few automakers that actually evolves its concepts into production vehicles.
The production prototype version of the Polestar 5 debuted in late 2021, equipped with carriage doors and a “Smart Zone” grille that houses many of the sensors for the EV’s ADAS. In July 2023, a camouflaged prototype of the 5 appeared publicly at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, touting 884 horsepower and Polestar’s 800V architecture that will enable ultra-fast charging speeds.
By November 2023, we learned that EV battery specialist StoreDot would trial its new 100in5 battery technology in the Polestar 5, giving the 4-door GT charging capabilities of garnering 100 miles of range in just 5 minutes.
These fast-charging cells have since become the nucleus of StoreDot’s I-BEAM XFC concept design, which is targeting mass production later this year. Before the Polestar 5 and fast-charging architecture hit the market, however, both Polestar and StoreDot are showing off those capabilities, and they’re quite impressive.
Polestar 5 prototype surpasses 370 kW charging rate
Per Polestar, the first verification prototype of the 5 GT successfully demonstrated the promised charging rates enabled by StoreDot’s XFC technology, charging from 10-80% in just ten minutes. The companies shared that the 5 held a consistent charge rate during the session, starting at 310 kW before surpassing 370 kW.
By comparison to the current market, those are some of the higher charge rates achieved by a BEV and offer encouraging results for a future in which drivers can park, recharge, and get back on the road more similarly to the time it would take to stop and refill an ICE vehicle at a gas station. Polestar CEO Thomas Ingenlath shared a similar sentiment:
Time is one of life’s greatest luxuries, and as a manufacturer of luxury electric performance cars, we need to take the next step to address one of the biggest barriers to EV ownership – charging anxiety. With this new technology, on longer journeys when drivers do stop they’ll be able to spend less time charging and be back on the road faster than before. In fact, that stop time will be more akin to what they experience with a petrol car today.
The Polestar 5 prototype houses a specially commissioned 77 kWh pack, with charging speeds bolstered by StoreDot’s silicon-dominant cells. However, the automaker says the battery pack has the capability to be increased to at least 100 kWh, enabling the BEV to recoup 200 miles of range in a ten-minute charge.
When the Precept became the Polestar 5, the automaker aimed to reach the market in 2024. However, the company’s current focus is on the two SUVs that will precede the GT – the Polestar 3 and 4. While we await the Polestar 5’s arrival on the market, you can check out its prototype’s charging capabilities in the video below:
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Leading electric vehicle analyst, author, and industry thought leaders Loren McDonald and Bill Ferro stop by Quick Charge to discuss EV Adoption’s acquisition by Paren, the “crisis” of EV charging reliability, and the real state of the EV market.
Depending on who you listen, EVs are either driving brands to record growth and are about cross that critical 10% of the overall market nationwide, or the future is bleak, the market is down, and EVs just aren’t selling. What’s really going on? Loren and Bill (probably) have some answers.
Today’s episode is sponsored by BLUETTI, a leading provider of portable power stations, solar generators, and energy storage systems. For a limited time, save up to 52% during BLUETTI’s exclusive Black Friday sale, now through November 28, and be sure to use promo code BLUETTI5OFF for 5% off all power stations site wide. Click here to learn more.
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Read more: All my favorite EVs, racecars, and robots from Electrify Expo Austin.
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Chevy EV owners in Texas who have Reliant as their electric utility can now charge for free at night with renewable energy.
Over 150 Chevrolet dealerships across Texas are now offering the Reliant Free Charge Nights plan to new EV buyers. With Free Charge Nights, customers can offset their charging costs by receiving credits for electricity used between 11 pm and 6 am. The plan is powered entirely by renewable energy, thanks to the purchase of renewable energy certificates (RECs).
Rasesh Patel, president of NRG Consumer, says the plan is about making power personal: “We’re excited to help Chevrolet EV drivers offset the cost of charging their vehicle all while having access to a renewable electricity plan.”
This collaboration aims to make EV adoption more appealing by making charging cheaper and greener. GM Energy’s chief revenue officer, Aseem Kapur, emphasized that partnerships like this help build the ecosystem needed to support an all-electric future: “The Reliant Free Charge Nights plan is a great example of how an automaker and an energy company can work together to make EV adoption an easy decision.”
Existing Reliant customers can also sign up for the Free Charge Nights plan. To get started, Chevrolet EV owners need to designate their vehicle on the GM Energy Smart Charging Portal before enrolling in the plan.
Reliant Energy, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, serves over 1.5 million customers in Texas, making it one of the largest electricity providers in the state.
Read more: Texas to get 1 GW AI-powered virtual power plant, enough to power 200,000 homes
If you live in an area that has frequent natural disaster events, and are interested in making your home more resilient to power outages, consider going solar and adding a battery storage system. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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Texas is about to get a major power boost – a new AI-powered virtual power plant (VPP) delivering capacity equivalent to 200,000 homes during peak demand.
NRG Energy is teaming up with Renew Home to bring nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of capacity to the Texas grid by 2035, aiming to make it more resilient while helping residents save on energy costs.
The new VPP will rely on hundreds of thousands of smart thermostats and other connected home devices, making use of AI technology provided by Google Cloud. These devices, like Vivint and Nest smart thermostats, will be offered to eligible customers at no cost. By automating HVAC adjustments, they help shift energy use to when electricity is cheaper, cleaner, and less strained.
NRG and Renew Home have big plans for the VPP. Starting in spring 2025, the companies plan to roll out the program across Texas, installing these smart thermostats in homes served by NRG’s retail electricity providers. Eventually, they plan to add home battery storage and EVs to expand the power plant’s capabilities.
Texas has faced record-breaking energy demands, with peak usage hitting 85 GW in 2023. As the state’s population grows and extreme weather becomes more frequent, VPPs like this one could play a key role in stabilizing the grid. VPPs aggregate a lot of small-scale energy resources, from smart thermostats to home batteries, and use them to help balance supply and demand during times of high stress on the grid.
This nearly 1 GW VPP will be one of the largest of its kind in Texas. NRG’s president of consumer operations, Rasesh Patel, calls it a “pivotal step” for improving customer experience while making Texas’ energy infrastructure more sustainable and resilient.
In addition to Renew Home, NRG is working with Google Cloud to maximize the power plant’s effectiveness. Google Cloud’s AI and analytics tools will help predict weather conditions, forecast renewable generation, and optimize energy usage, all of which will help make energy management smoother for both customers and the grid.
Ben Brown, CEO of Renew Home, said:
NRG’s commitment to creating a more resilient and sustainable energy future while also making electricity bills more affordable makes them an ideal partner for co-developing this unique VPP program.
This initiative raises the bar for future-proofing our electricity infrastructure and delivering cost savings to customers.
Read: Chinese solar giant Trina sells its Texas factory a week after it opens
To limit power outages and make your home more resilient, consider going solar with a battery storage system. In order to find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisers to help you every step of the way. Get started here. –trusted affiliate link*
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