Chrysler unveils Halcyon Concept EV; Lyten Li-sulfur batteries
14 February 2024
Chrysler unveiled the Chrysler Halcyon Concept electric vehicle. Chrysler will launch the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and will feature an all-electric portfolio in 2028.
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept reinforces the brand’s commitment to the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 plan, which cultivates the electrified and more efficient propulsion systems that will enable Stellantis to cut its global carbon footprint by 50% by 2030.
The concept also envisions incorporating breakthrough Lyten 800V lithium-sulfur EV batteries that do not use nickel, cobalt or manganese, resulting in an estimated 60% lower carbon footprint than today’s best-in-class batteries and a pathway to achieve the lowest emissions EV battery on the global market.
In May 2023, Stellantis Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Stellantis, announced an investment in Lyten to accelerate the commercialization of Lyten 3D Graphene applications for the mobility industry.
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept, designed on the STLA Large platform, offers an aerodynamic and streamlined vision of the Chrysler brand’s future exterior character. The concept’s combination of seamless technology and battery-electric performance work in harmony with a pure, streamlined exterior design that ingeniously embeds aerodynamic elements.
The concept’s Active Aero Technology incorporates a sliding rear lower aero diffuser created from lightweight composite material, a rear spoiler and air suspension to enhance efficiency and driving dynamics. The concept’s undercarriage is designed to incorporate emerging inductive charging technology, with sensors integrated in the vehicle communicating with sensors under the road to charge the battery and provide unlimited range.
An augmented-reality full-screen head-up display (HUD) shares important driving information, such as speed, charge status and more. The cockpit incorporates AI functionality, allowing the driver to ask the vehicle anything. STLA Brain technology delivers over-the-air (OTA) updates with the latest technology and features to keep the concept fresh, and the Stellantis AI system allows the concept to diagnose issues and communicate OTA solutions without visiting a dealership.
The reverse-yoke-designed steering wheel folds away, with pedals also retracting when the steering wheel retracts. The Chrysler Halcyon Concept eliminates the traditional instrument panel, allowing occupants to take advantage of a footrest that runs the width of the car to better relax and enjoy the view from the panoramic windshield.
Rear seats retract into the trunk area to highlight a potential next-generation vision of Stow ‘n Go seating, first invented for Chrysler minivans. The rear seats stow away either through biometric identification or voice command to open space for groceries, pet kennels and more. Rear armrests are sculptural and support the flow-through console.
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept is underpinned by a full suite of innovative technology from Stellantis, with complementary STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit and STLA AutoDrive technologies working together.
In Prepare Mode, a Stellantis AI virtual assistant preps for the day, notifying the driver and the Chrysler Halcyon Concept of upcoming events. A personalized and seamless experience ties the vehicle with other connected devices, such as a smart phone or smart home thermostat. Using advanced STLA Brain and SmartCockpit technology, an Intelligent Cabin Comfort feature analyzes weather conditions and uses personalized preferences to set HVAC levels remotely. Predictive navigation, one of the concept’s many predictive interaction features, syncs with the driver’s calendar to prepare the vehicle for real-time traffic and navigation routing, staying one step ahead and eliminating unneeded driver inputs.
As the driver approaches the Chrysler Halcyon Concept, the vehicle recognizes the driver, comes to life and provides a greeting through a Welcome Mode that uses biometric identification. Illuminated LED exterior lighting animation, personalized exterior sound features and a greeting on interior screens provide a warm welcome and sense of connection with the vehicle. Functional Chrysler wing logos on the side aero panels communicate vehicle charge status.
In Welcome/Entry Modes the driver is the “key” to unlocking the concept, as facial biometrics allow safe and secure, hands-free vehicle entry and start-up, with doors unlocking and opening autonomously. Biometric functions can also detect if the driver is carrying a package or backpack and intuitively retract the next-gen Stow ‘n Go seats to create storage space. Air suspension assists with ingress by lifting the low-profile vehicle as the driver enters the cockpit, with the concept always at the right entry height.
Pre-drive Mode brings to life a customized experience, with personalized vehicle cymatics—sound and vibrations mirrored through visuals—helping to create the mood of the vehicle. As the vehicle wakes up and welcomes the driver, it can share a calming or energetic sound based on driver presets. Different sound frequencies prompt corresponding product shapes on the console screen. Calming frequencies align with a more dispersed particle pattern on the console screen, while more spirited sound frequencies generated during drive modes create energetic particle patterns that provide the driver with a real-world connection to the vehicle’s performance status. Ambient interior lighting and sounds also adjust to driver inputs and complement the cabin environment.
Drive Mode delivers a dynamic, personalized driving experience. Drivers can sit back, relax and allow the Chrysler Halcyon Concept to take control while the STLA AutoDrive technology platform enables Level 4 autonomous driving features, such as Stargazing Mode or take the wheel and controls.
STLA AutoDrive technology platform enables Level 4 autonomous driving features that eliminate the stress of traffic using predictive navigation. The steering wheel and pedals retract, and the dimmable glass canopy and windshield can turn opaque for privacy and to create an immersive space, such as a Stargazing Mode in which seats morph into a laid-back position while the augmented-reality windshield HUD projects information on stars and constellations.
Drivers who want to own the controls can use voice recognition to deploy the steering wheel and experience pure dynamic driving excitement in a low-profile vehicle that is one with the road. Customized EV drive modes enhance the driving experience with selectable levels of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) support, and holographic elements in the HUD blend seamlessly into the real world for both navigation and gamification. The concept can gamify travel through mountainous ranges by identifying certain landmarks or marking best lap times.
The connected experience wraps up in Exit Mode, with Automated Parking features and automatic transformation of seats and ride height to accommodate vehicle egress. Smart exterior lighting enables vehicle-to-pedestrian communication, with indicator lighting such as blinkers or stopping displayed on the ground through near-field projection to aid in pedestrian safety. A send-off is communicated on the console screen and complemented through animated lighting and sounds.
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept imagines a future that takes advantage of innovative Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology to recharge wirelessly electric vehicles traveling over specially equipped, dedicated road lanes, allowing for unlimited range and travel from destinations, such as New York to Seattle, without need of charger, charge cord or charge stations. Stellantis partnered in 2022 to demonstrate the potential of DWPT technology at the Arena del Futuro circuit in Chiari, Italy.
Almost everything about this is attractive!
Lets hope the batteries pan out:
https://lyten.com/products/batteries/
Through the road charging would also be great, and a couple of years back I had the pleasure of some fairly extensive on line discussion with one of the engineers, who IMO was more than forthcoming about energy losses in induction charging etc, and I am a doubting Thomas by nature.
There is one think which I don't like, done in the interest of energy savings and style.
Anyone guess what it is?
The clue is that I am 73 years old.
And no, it is not because it won't use hydrogen! ;-)
Posted by: Davemart | 14 February 2024 at 03:25 AM
Here is why lithium sulphur has not to date taken over the world:
https://uk.motor1.com/news/706800/lithium-sulphur-batteries-explained/
Cycle life has been way too low, and there have been self discharge issues.
Several companies are trying to crack these issues, and Lyten claim to have done so, and to be ready for production in 2025
Posted by: Davemart | 14 February 2024 at 03:32 AM
Sion the makers of Licerion lithium metal anode batteries were working on sulfur, after the acquisition they were told to concentrate on Licerion and not on sulfur. The problem with sulfur is it comes off the cathode and mixes with the electrolyte reducing the cycles if they found a way to stop that then there they go.
Posted by: SJC | 14 February 2024 at 07:19 AM
I doubt you could sell a car like that in the EU any more as it would slice a pedestrian's legs in two in an impact at any speed.
+ it might be hard to get in to and out of (esp. for Davemart).
Posted by: mahonj | 14 February 2024 at 09:37 AM
Jim:
You got it!
Low and sleek ain't for old and tubby!
And in regard to fuel economy, older motorists both do less distance per year, and more rarely at speed, which is where aerogoddamits really count.
So low and sleek is perhaps not the way to go for increasing numbers of motorists!
Posted by: Davemart | 14 February 2024 at 10:22 AM
+ if you look at a tesla Model 3, it is not that low. I think the profile is mainly for show, rather than aerodynamics, which can be achieved with a blunter front.
Posted by: mahonj | 14 February 2024 at 11:38 AM
Yeah Jim,
And the kneecapping front would be easily redesigned into something the pedestrians would slide over instead.
I do hope the Cybertruck never makes it to Europe, as that seems rather tougher to alter from a killer design idea.
Posted by: Davemart | 14 February 2024 at 12:00 PM
I don't think they can make enough cybertrucks, so we won't see them for quite a while, if ever.
Interesting to see how many people get killed by them.
Posted by: mahonj | 14 February 2024 at 12:21 PM
What a load of irrelevant expensive "tech". People will become like Jack Vance described in "The Last Castle" - useless. I'd swap all that tech for a car that can at least make a cup of tea but it can't even do that!
Posted by: Emphyrio | 15 February 2024 at 06:38 AM
@Emphyrio:
Not quite, but close!
https://www.motor1.com/news/708302/honda-cr-v-hydrogen-promo/
'The 2025 Honda CR-V Hydrogen Will Power Your Coffee Maker'
Posted by: Davemart | 15 February 2024 at 02:33 PM
Will they make it loudly go vroom vroom like the Dodge Charger Daytona "the EV THEY don't want you to have" https://evcentral.com.au/dodge-launches-the-ev-they-dont-wont-you-to-have/
Posted by: Albert E Short | 15 February 2024 at 03:51 PM