- New Patent Boosts Charging Rates for Electric Vehicles
- Innovative Solution Enhances Charging Performance
- Improving Charging Efficiency for Tesla V3 Superchargers
Stellantis is developing cutting-edge hardware to optimize the output of low-power DC fast chargers for electric vehicles, offering enhanced charging capabilities without compromising weight or complexity.
While the patent does not reference Tesla directly, it has the potential to significantly impact real-world charging scenarios. This breakthrough could enable 800-volt EVs, like the upcoming Ram 1500 REV, to charge at faster rates when connected to sub-800-volt fast-charge connectors commonly found on the Tesla Supercharger network.
Stellantis has also announced plans to embrace the Tesla-based charge port, known as NACS and now part of the SAE J3400 standard, starting in February.
Rivian NACS adapter
The innovative charging boost system, detailed in a patent filing by Stellantis with the USPTO, aims to leverage the full potential of 800-volt vehicle architectures even when charging at 400-volt DC fast-charging stations.
Stellantis DC fast-charging boost system patent image
Unlike conventional DC boost modules that add bulk and cost, Stellantis’s approach involves relay switches and a small DC capacitor to amplify voltage, offering a more efficient and cost-effective solution applicable to plug-in hybrids as well as EVs.
By utilizing relay switches during charging, the system allows for enhanced current flow and conversion, enabling higher-power DC currents to be delivered to the battery, resulting in faster charging times.
Stellantis DC fast-charging boost system patent image
While most current EVs operate on a 400-volt architecture, Stellantis’s future EVs, like the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona and 2024 Jeep Wagoneer S, will continue with this setup. However, Stellantis has confirmed that larger Ram EVs will be equipped with 800-volt charging capabilities.
Stellantis’s relentless focus on streamlining charging technologies underscores its commitment to advancing the EV landscape. The company’s plans to simplify EVs by eliminating onboard chargers and inverters demonstrate its dedication to innovation in the electric vehicle sector.