The race for the “holy grail” of EV batteries is heating up. Mercedes-Benz is testing the world’s first manufacturing EV with a solid-state battery, promising to ship over 621 miles of driving vary.
Mercedes solid-state battery-powered EVs hit the street
Mercedes hit an enormous milestone, taking its solid-state EV battery tech from the lab to the actual world. On Monday, the corporate introduced it has formally put “the primary automotive powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the street” by its partnership with US-based Factorial Vitality.
On-road exams in a modified EQS started earlier this month following the primary lab exams on the finish of 2024. The EQS is barely modified to suit the solid-state battery and different elements.
“Being the primary to efficiently combine lithium-metal solid-state batteries right into a manufacturing automobile platform marks a historic achievement in electrical mobility,” Factorial’s CEO, Siyu Huang, stated after the accomplishment.
The brand new battery pack was developed by Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes AMG Excessive-Efficiency Powertrains (HPP), a number one System 1 provider.
Mercedes has been working with Factorial Vitality since 2021 to launch the brand new battery cells, promising extra driving vary, sooner charging, and effectivity. Final summer time, Factorial delivered its first solid-state battery cells based mostly on its propriety FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Expertise).
Mercedes and Factorial took it a step additional, revealing the extra superior all-solid-state Solstice battery in September.
The brand new batteries are being co-developed to energy Mercedes’ next-gen electrical fashions. With a sulfide-based strong electrolyte, the battery is safer and extra environment friendly.
The holy grail of EV batteries
With a “breakthrough” power density of 450 Wh/kg, Factorial stated the brand new Solstice battery is predicted to offer 80% extra driving vary than present lithium-ion batteries.
Though full specs have but to be confirmed, Mercedes stated the EQS’s 12-module battery housing was versatile sufficient for various configurations.
Mercedes expects the brand new battery to increase the driving vary by about 25%. The present EQS 450+ rated with as much as 511 WLTP miles vary would counsel a driving vary of over 620 miles.
Factorial goals to unlock over 600 miles of driving vary with 40% weight financial savings in comparison with typical Li-ion batteries. The corporate says Solstice is 33% smaller than a present 90 kWh battery at 580 lbs.
In December, Factorial introduced a serious milestone after its Solstice all-solid-state battery cells achieved 40 Ah capability. The corporate is working with different main automakers, together with Hyundai and Stellantis, to advance solid-state battery know-how and goals to launch solid-state batteries by 2030.
In keeping with Mercedes chief tech officer Markus Shafer, the brand new Solstice batteries will “set new requirements in vary, value, and efficiency. ” Mercedes expects to be producing solid-state batteries at scale by the top of the last decade.
Electrek’s Take
Mercedes is amongst a number of automakers and different corporations growing solid-state batteries in hopes of unlocking extra vary, security, and effectivity.
The information comes after native studies earlier this month steered Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery demo line in March. Japanese rival Honda unveiled its pilot line to the general public in November.
Stellantis introduced plans to launch a fleet of electrical Dodge Chargers powered by Factorials solid-state batteries in 2026.
Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Stellantis, and others purpose to mass-produce solid-state batteries by the top of the last decade.
And don’t overlook that Chinese language EV battery leaders BYD and CATL are additionally racing to launch solid-state batteries. Which firm will come out on high?
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