500 Kilometres of Range in Less Than Five-Minutes – DESTEN Group’s CEO on Its Ultra-Fast Charging Solution

Auto Futures first talked to DESTEN Group back in 2019 after it was revealed to be the company behind the ultra-fast battery technology deployed in Piëch Automotive’s Mark Zero. It promises a time of four minutes and forty seconds to charge an electric sports car from 0% up to 80% of its battery capacity.

To get an update on its technological development, we’ve been talking to Siamak Kia, the CEO of DESTEN Group.

The Hong Kong-based company describes its ultra-fast charging capability as the result of its ‘breakthrough discoveries in materials and cell structures, featuring novel chemical formulations’. 

“DESTEN has been producing our 19AH cells since 2018. We have been working to improve production processes and integrate our technology into automotive battery packs and into charging systems for our customer Piëch Automotive alongside other companies we have been working with,” says Kia.

Its battery technology, alongside other innovations, provides the source of power for the solution and facilitates the ultra-fast charging for EVs. 

“The 900kW system is substantially more powerful than those in the market today, we use energy storage to reduce impact on grid structures which allows us to make use of renewably produced electricity when its plentiful and rapidly discharge for EV’s.”

“Beyond the value of fast charging in terms of helping people save time charging their car, DESTEN’s solution reduces the total amount of chargers required by the network to service a given fleet of EVs. As each EV takes less time to charge, one charging system can support many more EVs on a daily basis,” he adds.

“Range anxiety tends to regard the inflexibility associated with unplanned travel, a smaller pack is possible as it can charge quickly along established 350kW infrastructures available today. A small pack with less kWh capacity is less costly too, making EVs faster charging and more affordable,” explains Kia.

Although he didn’t elaborate on the science behind the company’s breakthrough technology, Kia says its solutions are more sustainable than regular Lithium-ion battery packs as they don’t use as much chemicals such as cobalt or lithium.

“DESTEN’s battery cell technology is produced from primarily renewable energy sources, resulting in a smaller carbon footprint to meet the needs of the automotive and energy storage industry.” 

“The cells have a strong lifecycle profile which means they last longer too; this is important for the sustainability of the end product, as a car, bus, or bike with a longer lifetime means that less EVs need to be replaced each year, which in turn reduces the need for steel, plastics and other materials which use significant amounts of energy to produce,” he says.  

Smarter Grids For Greener Cities

Ultra-fast charging tends to cause high levels of heat within batteries. DESTEN says its batteries retain high thermal stability, and so remain cool throughout operation.

“DESTEN’s cell technologies are exceedingly safe, during operation they maintain low and consistent temperatures which promotes safer integration with pack infrastructures and even removes the need for liquid cooling infrastructures, saving money and energy.” explains Kia. 

“DESTEN’s batteries have been put through exhaustive safety testing, from crushing, piercing and drop tests, to overcharging and high heat operation; the cells have passed all of these tests,” he adds.

Kia says the company is currently working with a number of companies worldwide, and is  focusing on energy storage and automotive applications. However, it recently announced it’s working with the Indonesian government to identify ways of moving the country towards a greener society, and how DESTEN can help it achieve this ambition.

“The Indonesia government has shown leadership in their pursuit of a globally greener economy. DESTEN’s role will be to help drive the local production of high value green products and supporting the development of the grid to prepare Indonesia for a renewably powered future.”   

“With the shift towards renewable energy in Indonesia and huge economic potential from the development of the entire battery value chain, Indonesia will strengthen its position as a global hub in energy innovation and one of the leaders of the international sustainability movement,” he adds.

DESTEN is showcasing its innovations in a global roadshow starting in Asia, then The Middle East, Europe, and North America.

EVs will begin to form a part of a holistic energy system, which uses cars to store energy.

Finally, we asked Kia what EV charging will be like by the end of the decade.

“EV charging options will flourish, either in the home or in public places, your car will be able to charge either extremely quickly or slowly depending upon when you will need to use it next; because cars retain energy storage inside. The grid will pay you to use renewable energy to drive your car; making transportation even more affordable than it is today,” he responds.

“EVs will begin to form a part of a holistic energy system, which uses cars to store energy, rooftops to produce it, and easy ways to trade it. Energy is a critical driver of prosperity and we will continue to use more and more of it for production and transportation.”

“The cities of the future will be seamlessly connected, not only for data, but for energy too,” concludes Kia.