What’s the new Charger sound? Hear Tavares speak about the future of Stellantis. Video version of newsletter here.
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is gaining traction but a lot still has to change according to the CEO of one of leading carmakers. In fact, he says the current state of battery-powered vehicles, which he is selling right now, is unsustainable. He said that as he unveiled the company’s latest battery EV.
Carlos Tavares runs Stellantis, the maker of Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Fiat and Peugeot, among other brands. With a splashy video, Tavares introduced the Ram 1500 concept EV which is Stellantis’ answer to the Ford F-150 and GM Silverado electric trucks.
Just moments earlier he told the audience at the CES technology show in Las Vegas that, “the current weight of EVs with the current chemistry is not sustainable. Cars are way too heavy!” Like other carmakers, Stellantis is working with battery makers to change how electrons are stored in a vehicle. That means changing the design, and more importantly, the chemistry of batteries.
Tavares proclaimed that changes are coming, “The technology in the new chemistry will double the power density and bring the appropriate range similar to that of a traditional internal combustion engine at around 400 to 500 miles.”
Power density is the holy grail in battery technology. If more power can be stored in a smaller, lighter package, the weight of the vehicle can drop dramatically. Tavares predicted that the new battery chemistry Stellantis will move to cut vehicle weight in half and be more sustainable by driving, “a more responsible use of a scarce resource.” He says their proprietary “solid-state” battery will use less cobalt and will be available in 2026.
Solid-state batteries are being chased by a number of developers. Progress has been made to create this holy grail, but a solid-state battery is not being produced at scale yet.
While Tavares was bullish on battery breakthroughs, he threw some cold water on the move to autonomous vehicles. He noted some competitors are abandoning partnerships with autonomy companies. “We are not in a rush to give autonomous features just for the headline,” he said. Stellantis is continuing to work on autonomy and is making acquisitions, but Tavares said, “Trust me, there's a lot of noise out there. We are focused on what customers want and how to bring value to their day to day life where safety always comes first.”
Battery and software development are getting the attention of auto CEOs. Tavares sounded a bit like Steve Jobs when he talked about what drivers want from their new cars. “They want simplicity. We know there's too much friction between our customers and the tech in cars today. We are moving towards more simple, intuitive ergonomics where customers will complete all tasks with one glance and one click,” he said.
Stellantis is also working on sounds and we are not talking about the dings and bings inside the car. Tavares introduced what he called a “brand new sound.” It’s for the company’s concept muscle car the Charger Daytona SRT. It’s the revving sound you would hear from an internal combustion engine. It’s unclear if this sound would be played both inside and outside of the electric muscle car.
Tavares did say this muscle car of the future will drive with, “more donuts, more burnouts, more drifts… this is a brand that embraces the rebel in all of us.”
Tavares just highlighted the transformation that is underway. All the predictions need to backed up by breakthroughs. If he is right, the car you buy this year will be left in the dust by the vehicle available in 2026.
What’s the new Charger sound? Hear Tavares speak about the future of Stellantis. Video version of newsletter here.
Current EV batteries- Not sustainable!
Wow! New tech is coming faster and faster. Will there be a tiny fusion reactor to replace heavy batteries in the future? The EV equivalent of a nuclear sub! :-)