How Rimac Technology is Electrifying the Mainstream with Solid-State and Next-Gen e-Axles

MUNICH – For years, the name Rimac Automobili has been synonymous with the bleeding edge of electric performance—a halo brand producing hypercars with eye-watering power outputs and price tags to match. But at this year’s IAA Mobility show in Munich, the company’s technology division, Rimac Technology, executed a strategic masterstroke. It unveiled a roadmap that promises to not only redefine the upper limits of EV performance but, more importantly, to fundamentally accelerate the electrification of the global automotive industry.

Rimac Technology unveiled two groundbreaking innovations: a revolutionary solid-state battery technology platform and a new generation of highly compact, ultra-efficient e-Axles. Together, they represent a holistic approach to solving the most pressing challenges facing electric vehicles today: range, charging speed, energy density, packaging, and performance.

The Holy Grail: Rimac’s Verne Solid-State Battery Cell

The star of the show was undoubtedly the announcement of Rimac’s proprietary solid-state battery cell, christened “Verne” (after Jules Verne). For decades, solid-state technology has been touted as the “holy grail” of batteries, promising a leap in performance over current lithium-ion cells that use liquid electrolytes. While many have promised, few have delivered a viable, scalable solution. Rimac Technology, leveraging years of intensive R&D from its hypercar programs, claims to have cracked the code.

So, what makes Verne so special?

The core innovation lies in its anode. Unlike conventional graphite anodes, Verne utilizes a pure lithium metal anode. This is a monumental shift. Lithium metal offers a theoretical energy density nearly ten times that of graphite. However, it has been plagued by a fatal flaw: the growth of dendrites—tiny, tree-like lithium structures that can pierce the separator, cause short circuits, and lead to catastrophic failure.

Rimac’s solution is an elegant and proprietary ceramic solid electrolyte separator. This material is highly conductive for lithium ions but is an impeccable barrier against dendrites, preventing them from forming and propagating. This breakthrough unlocks the immense potential of the lithium metal anode safely and reliably.

The tangible benefits for manufacturers and consumers are profound:

• Exceptional Energy Density: Rimac is targeting a staggering 450 Wh/kg at the cell level and 1200 Wh/L. To put this in perspective, today’s best-performing lithium-ion cells are in the 250-300 Wh/kg range. This means automakers can either drastically increase range (imagine 600 miles/965 km on a single charge) without increasing pack size, or maintain current range figures with a much smaller, lighter, and cheaper battery pack.
• Blistering Charging Speed: The Verne cell is engineered to support extreme fast charging (XFC), capable of going from 10% to 80% state of charge in just 10 minutes. This effectively eliminates charging anxiety, bringing EV refueling times on par with a traditional gas station stop.
• Enhanced Safety: The solid electrolyte is non-flammable, a critical safety upgrade over volatile liquid electrolytes. This dramatically reduces the risk of thermal runaway and battery fires.
• Longevity: Rimac claims the cell will retain 80% of its capacity after a massive 1000 cycles, addressing concerns about long-term battery degradation.

Perhaps most importantly, Mate Rimac, CEO of the Rimac Group, emphasized that this isn’t just a lab prototype. The company has already established a pilot production line and is working closely with a single, unnamed German OEM to integrate the technology into their vehicles, with a target for production readiness before the end of the decade.

The Perfect Partner: Next-Generation e-Axles

A revolutionary battery is only one part of the electrification equation. The efficiency of the drivetrain that uses that energy is equally critical. Recognizing this, Rimac Technology also unveiled its new generation of e-Axles, designed to be the perfect mechanical partner to its high-density batteries.

These are not the powertrains built for the 2,000-horseweight Nevera hypercar; they are scalable units designed for high-volume production across a wide range of vehicles, from sporty sedans and SUVs to light commercial vehicles.

The philosophy behind these e-Axles is “maximum efficiency, minimum compromise.” Key features include:

• Unprecedented Power Density: Rimac has managed to create an incredibly compact and lightweight unit that doesn’t sacrifice power. Their flagship 3-in-1 design (integrating motor, inverter, and reduction gearbox) is the size of a small suitcase but can deliver a continuous output of 250 kW (335 hp) and a peak output soaring over 500 kW (670 hp).
• Scalability and Flexibility: The architecture is highly modular. Automakers can choose between single-speed and two-speed gearbox options and configure the units for rear-wheel drive, front-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive applications. This allows them to create a diverse range of driving characters from a single, core technology set.
• Rimac Silicon Carbide Inverter: At the heart of the e-Axle’s efficiency is Rimac’s own silicon carbide (SiC) inverter. SiC technology offers significantly lower switching losses than traditional silicon-based inverters, especially at higher voltages and frequencies. This translates directly into greater real-world range—every fraction of a percentage point of efficiency gained is more miles from the same battery charge.
• NVH Refinement: For mainstream adoption, electric drivetrains must be not only powerful but also smooth and quiet. Rimac has placed a major emphasis on Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) refinement, ensuring these e-Axles deliver a premium, serene driving experience expected by consumers in the luxury segment.

A Synergistic Vision for the Future of Mobility

The true genius of Rimac Technology’s IAA reveal is not in the individual components, but in the synergistic system they create. The Verne solid-state battery provides immense, rapidly accessible energy in a small package. The next-generation e-Axles use that energy with ruthless efficiency and devastating performance.

This combination solves multiple problems for automakers simultaneously:

• Packaging: Smaller batteries and more compact drivetrains free up vast amounts of cabin and cargo space.
• Weight Reduction: Lighter battery packs improve handling, efficiency, and reduce wear on tires and brakes.
• Performance: The combination guarantees exceptional power and range, moving beyond the traditional trade-off between the two.
• Consumer Adoption: By tackling range and charging anxiety head-on, these technologies have the potential to convert the remaining EV skeptics.

From Halo to Heartbeat

Rimac Technology’s presentation at IAA Mobility marks a pivotal moment in the company’s evolution. It is a clear declaration that the extreme innovation born from the crucible of the hypercar is now ready for the mainstream market. They are no longer just a niche supplier for the ultra-wealthy; they are positioning themselves as a tier-1 technology partner to the world’s largest automakers.

The message is clear: the future of electric mobility will be built not on incremental updates, but on foundational technological leaps. With its simultaneous advancements in energy storage and energy use, Rimac Technology isn’t just showing us a faster electric car; it’s providing the toolkit to build a better, more efficient, and more desirable electric future for everyone. The race for EV dominance just found a new frontrunner, and it’s coming from a small company in Croatia with ambitions to power the world.

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