Bentley unveiled the EXP 100 GT concept vehicle to celebrate its centennial birthday.
With its workforce streamlined and profits back on the books, Bentley is in the right position to tackle an electrification strategy, and solid-state batteries could play a role in developing the luxury auto manufacturer’s fully-electric vehicle, according to an article in Automotive News.
Solid-state batteries offer several advantages over current lithium-ion battery technology, which is why many automakers such as Ford, BMW, and Hyundai are investing in companies that develop them. By swapping liquid electrolytic solution for a solid electrolyte, solid-state batteries are faster to charge, less flammable, and are have a higher energy density that makes them 30% lighter for equivalent energy storage.
Lighter, smaller batteries means this technology could enable Bentley to develop a vehicle that has the same cavernous interiors customers expect from the brand, but with smaller exterior dimensions and weight savings that benefit electric vehicles.
However, the company is still several years away from producing a fully electric vehicle, says CEO Adrian Hallmark in the article. The company is exploring a new group architecture platform that would be used to build the electric vehicle, and 2025 would be the earliest that it could produce a “credible battery-electric Bentley.”
Bentley has recently released its first plug-in hybrid, the 2020 Bentley Bentayga Hybrid, which uses a 13-kWh battery. However, the company’s upcoming battery-electric vehicle isn’t destined to be a crossover. The company has debuted a concept EV that showcases what luxury motoring could look like in 2035, and Hallmark pointed to the increased density of solid-state batteries that enable vehicles to overcome aero resistance, which makes it possible to develop cars that are lower or higher than current models.
