Robotaxi services differ fundamentally from private electric-vehicle use. Instead of spending most of the day idle, a robotaxi alternates between driving, recharging and returning to service within a single shift. This pattern multiplies charge cycles, raises the total energy moved through the pack, and intensifies both thermal and electrochemical stress. The question is no longer whether a vehicle can charge quickly once, but whether it can do so repeatedly without degrading.
Robotaxi operations demand a new battery mindset
The workload of a shared autonomous car forces the battery to handle high-current inflows many times per hour. When lithium ions cannot migrate fast enough inside the cell, internal resistance climbs, heat builds up, and a phenomenon called lithium plating can appear, accelerating wear. Moishel Biton, CEO of Addionics, stresses that “La vera sfida per l’industria non è ottenere una singola ricarica rapida, ma rendere la ricarica rapida ripetibile“. In other words, the industry must engineer cells that stay cool and stable through relentless fast-charge pulses.
Addionics’ porous-3D electrode architecture delivers repeatable rapid charging
In a series of internal tests, Addionics compared a prototype cell featuring a three-dimensional porous electrode structure with a conventional reference. The prototype reached 25% state-of-charge in just five minutes and completed a full charge in a little over 25 minutes, whereas the reference required almost 40 minutes for the same level. Moreover, the new cell preserved capacity better over repeated fast-charge cycles, showing up to a 50% improvement in cycle life depending on the chemistry. Biton explains that the advantage stems from “una struttura porosa tridimensionale all’interno della cella” that eases ion flow and stabilises current distribution.
Cost savings and the shift toward purpose-built cells
The economic impact of a smaller, faster-recharging pack can be substantial. Biton estimates that a 29% reduction in required capacity could save roughly $5,000 per robotaxi, translating to about $5 million for a fleet of 1,000 vehicles. He adds, “La batteria migliore – ha spiegato Biton – non è né quella più grande né quella più piccola: è quella che offre alla flotta il giusto equilibrio con il minor numero di compromessi“. Heat management plays a key role in achieving those savings. According to Biton, “La strategia più efficiente consiste nel ridurre la generazione di calore all’interno della cella prima ancora di chiedere al sistema di raffreddamento di eliminarlo”. Less internally generated heat means lower cooling power demand and longer service time per charge.
Looking ahead, Biton predicts a broader transition away from universal batteries toward designs tuned to specific usage patterns. “Stiamo entrando nell’era delle batterie su misura” he says, envisioning distinct cell architectures for robotaxis, delivery drones, humanoid robots and other autonomous platforms. Existing chemistries such as LFP, NMC and silicon-rich anodes can remain, but their packaging will evolve to support high-current loads, optimized ion transport and durable current distribution.
If the industry embraces purpose-built cells, the promise of truly repeatable rapid charging could become the new baseline for autonomous mobility services.
