A number of years in, a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and battery agency Factorial is lastly displaying progress towards growing viable solid-state battery tech for EVs.
Factorial on Tuesday introduced that its Solstice solid-state battery cell developed in collaboration with Mercedes may increase EV vary by as much as 80% by means of larger vitality density. This permits for larger vitality storage inside a given quantity, making for smaller battery packs that scale back automobile weight and improve effectivity, Factorial famous.
Factorial solid-state cells
The vary increase is even larger than the 50% Factorial mentioned when it started offering take a look at cells to automakers in 2022. The next 12 months, Massachusetts-based Factorial opened what it billed as the most important U.S. solid-state EV battery plant but in a Boston suburb. Factorial mentioned on the time that the $50 million facility would finally produce as much as 200 megawatt-hours of batteries on its meeting line.
The Solstice cell’s sulfide-based strong electrolyte may also stay steady at temperatures above 194 levels Fahrenheit, lowering cooling system necessities, in keeping with Factorial. Like different solid-state battery corporations, Factorial additionally claims decrease danger of fires in comparison with liquid electrolytes.
Factorial Power 40-amp-hour solid-state battery
Mercedes entered int the joint battery-development settlement with Factorial in 2021 and co-led a $200 million funding spherical for the corporate alongside Stellantis that was accomplished in 2022 (Hyundai has additionally invested in Factorial).
Different automakers are additionally funding solid-state battery tech, both by means of in-house improvement packages or partnerships with startups. Volkswagen has lengthy backed QuantumScape, whereas Nissan and Toyota have been growing solid-state cells in-house. Toyota lately confirmed plans to start manufacturing solid-state cells in 2026 because it makes an attempt a tenfold increase in EV manufacturing.