HOW RIMAC TECHNOLOGY PLANS TO TRANSFORM EVS

Solid-state batteries and light, potent powertrains bring new possibilities

- STEVE CROPLEY

Rimac Technology, the Croatian car maker's standalone engineering division, will “build Rimac out from its position as a startup” by revolutionising the EV world with solid-state batteries, more power-dense packs, high-performance powertrains and more, its chief operating officer, Nurdin Pitarevic, has told Autocar.

A company that was spawned from its Rimac namesake in 2022 following the deal with the Volkswagen Group to create Bugatti Rimac, Rimac Technology has been developing EV tech for the Croatian hypercar maker and third-party manufacturers.

This has ranged from small hybrid battery systems to full rolling chassis for clients that include everyone from large global manufacturers to low-volume firms. It also develops electronic systems, electric drive units and user-interface components.

SOLID STATE IS ON THE WAY

In an exclusive Autocar interview, Pitarevic – Rimac Group CEO Mate Rimac’s second in command – explained that the company is already well advanced with a new range of solid-state batteries. It is working on them with cell maker ProLogium and composite materials experts at Mitsubishi and it aims to put them on the market late this decade.

Pitarevic said he expects testing of the batteries to begin very soon and his “wish would be” that they would have their first application (in what he terms mid-volume production) in a new Bugatti model, due in 2030.