Stellantis unveiled an electric vehicle prototype on Friday featuring a faster-charging, lighter, and more affordable battery that eliminates the need for a separate inverter and charger.
The IBIS (Intelligent Battery Integrated System) was developed in partnership with TotalEnergies subsidiary Saft. It is one of the first of its kind and provides weight and space savings and is easier to service, Stellantis said.
New Battery
The new system is 10% more efficient than an EV with the same-sized battery and reduces charging time by an hour.
A lack of affordable models and slow charging times has been a barrier to broader public acceptance of EVs.
German manufacturer Porsche is also working on the concept of a “modular multi-level inverter” integrating numerous separate electrical components into a single unit.
The new IBIS battery is now undergoing road tests in a Peugeot e-3008.
“This milestone marks a major step forward in the electrification of mobile and stationary energy applications,” Stellantis said in a press release.
According to the Franco-Italian-American automaker, this technology could be integrated into its production vehicles by the end of the decade.
Contemporary EVs use an inverter to convert the battery’s direct current into alternating current to power the electric motor. In charging mode, alternating current from the grid is converted into direct current for the battery.
Stellantis said in the IBIS that these functions are integrated directly into the battery using electronic control via 200 transistors, reducing vehicle weight by 40 kg (88 lb), freeing up space and reducing charging time by 15%.
Stellantis in other news
Stellantis  is recalling nearly 164,000 Jeep vehicles in the U.S. due to issues causing a possible detachment of the trim on the driver and passenger doors, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Wednesday.
The recall covers certain Chrysler Jeep Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Wagoneer vehicles made between 2022 and 2025, the auto safety regulator said, adding that dealers will inspect and replace the door trim, as necessary, free of charge.
Earlier in September, the NHTSA said Stellantis was recalling about 92,000 Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles in the U.S. due to a software error within the hybrid control processor that could cause a loss of drive power.
Last week, the regulator opened a probe into about 287,000 Chrysler Pacifica minivans from the 2017-2018 model years over potential issues with their electric power steering.
