Gogoro announcedCooperate with Taiwan ProLogium Technology, launched the first prototype of swappable solid-state batteries for electric vehicles and soon demonstrated them in Taiwan.
According to the company's description, the swappable solid-state battery prototype, developed in collaboration with ProLogium Technology, boasts a 140% increase in capacity compared to the swappable batteries currently used in the Gogoro Network, increasing from 1.7kWh to 2.5kWh. It is expected to enter mass production in the next 3-4 years and be implemented in the Gogoro Network's energy network.
Compared to traditional liquid lithium batteries that use polymer liquid or gel electrolytes, solid-state batteries use a more stable solid electrolyte design, which can cope with a wider normal operating temperature range. Therefore, they can be used in a safer mode and can even store higher power with the higher density storage characteristics of solid-state batteries. At the same time, because they use solid electrolytes, they are less likely to burn or produce chemical changes that may cause explosion hazards than traditional liquid electrolytes. They also support fast charging and can make the battery smaller in size and other design requirements.
In addition to collaborating with Gogoro, ProLogium Technology also plans to apply solid-state battery technology to more mobile vehicles and more battery-powered devices. For example, it recently announced a collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, which is expected to be applied to its electric vehicle products.
Gogoro's Chief Product Officer, Peng Mingyi, stated that the main considerations for this collaboration with ProLogium Technology were safety and improved battery life. Furthermore, the goal was to reduce the overall weight of the battery and extend its lifespan. The advantages include increased reliability, allowing the vehicle to travel longer distances, and improved riding power efficiency by reducing the overall weight of the vehicle. This also allows the battery to last longer, thereby improving sustainability.
On the other hand, switching to solid-state batteries is also expected to promote more diverse application possibilities. It will not be limited to the use mode of traditional liquid lithium batteries. Through high compatibility, it can even be used in existing car models, maximizing the efficiency of battery use and improving the user experience.
As for why it will still take 3-4 years to prepare for mass production, Peng Mingyi explained that this is mainly due to some differences in the composition of the solid-state batteries used in cooperation with ProLogium Technology, so it will take time to verify production. He also emphasized the need to strike a balance between battery cost and performance, and maintain the same specifications to ensure compatibility across all Gogoro models.
At the same time, Peng Mingyi also revealed that it is indeed possible to create differentiated performance models based on different battery characteristics in the future, but this may involve the use of different battery versions, resulting in a significant difference in the battery usage experience of the vehicles. In addition, the cost and performance of the current solid-state batteries may be different when they are finally mass-produced. This also means that there will be greater development possibilities in future vehicle design, battery usage patterns, battery pricing, or future GoStation battery swap station construction methods.
Based on current plans, Peng Mingyi said that the company will tend to maintain the existing usage model, that is, sharing with current batteries, but he will remain open to whether there will be different development possibilities in the future.
