EV startup Lucid Motors and battery giant Samsung SDI have entered a partnership under which Samsung will supply lithium-ion cells for the Lucid Air executive sedan, which is scheduled to begin production in late 2018.

The two companies have collaborated to develop next-generation cylindrical cells that they say exceed current performance benchmarks in energy density, power, calendar life and safety, as well as delivering great tolerance to repeated fast charging.

Lucid is no newcomer to the EV battery field. At its founding in 2007 (as Atieva), the company focused on developing a scalable battery system, and it developed a diverse set of packs for motorcycles, sedans, vans and buses, with energy capacities ranging from 3 kWh to 150 kWh.

“I have been very pleased with the collaboration with Samsung SDI in developing a cell chemistry that meets our stringent standards,” said Albert Liu, Lucid’s Director of Battery Technology. “Samsung combined their in-house chemistry expertise with massive real-world datasets and state-of-the-art battery models provided by Lucid to develop a cell that is both energy-dense and resistant to damage associated with fast charging.”

“The breakthrough battery life demonstrated by the new cell will be of tangible benefit to our customers, particularly companies with ride-sharing services operating around the clock,” said Peter Rawlinson, CTO of Lucid.

Source: Lucid Motors