While there’s little doubt that Chinese car manufacturers and battery companies are pushing EV technologies to a new level, that doesn’t mean legacy brands aren’t also looking for how they, too, can make electric vehicles better. Stellantis is one of them and thanks to a partnership with Saft, a subsidiary of energy giant TotalEnergies, it’s unveiled a promising new tech.

Read: Stellantis Gives China’s Leapmotor A Way To Dodge Europe’s Painful EV Tariffs

This prototype, based on the Peugeot E-3008, has been fitted with a new kind of battery spawned from IBIS, the collaborative initiative launched by Stellantis six years ago. Unlike most EVs, it embeds the inverter and charger functionalities directly into the battery. It supports AC and DC charging while also supplying the vehicle’s 12-volt architecture and auxiliary systems.

Power With Less Weight

The claimed gains are significant. Stellantis reports a 10 percent improvement in energy efficiency compared with a conventional pack of the same size. Peak power rises from 201 hp (150 kW) to 231 hp (172 kW), while the system sheds 88 lbs (40 kg) and frees up 17 liters of space.

Charging performance also benefits, with times reduced by as much as 15 percent. On a standard 7 kW AC charger, for example, a full recharge drops from 7 hours to around 6.

Still On Trial

Although the figures are promising, development is still in its early stages. Testing of the IBIS system is expanding to include on-road trials, and if progress stays on track, Stellantis suggests the system could appear in production vehicles before the decade closes.

As chief engineering and technology officer Ned Curic explains, the thinking is straightforward. “This project reflects our belief that simplification is innovation. By rethinking and simplifying the electric powertrain architecture, we are making it lighter, more efficient, and more cost-effective. These are the kinds of innovations that help us deliver better, more affordable EVs to our customers.”