Mercedes-Benz starts solid-state battery road testing

Mercedes-Benz has started road tests of its solid-state battery technology. This is a big step towards safer, lighter, and more dense batteries for electric vehicles, with Mercedes claiming the new batteries can potentially increase range by 25%.

The German automaker, together with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP) and US-based solid-state battery developer Factorial Energy, has integrated these advanced batteries into a modified "1,000 km" EQS. The collaboration between the three sides brings together expertise from both passenger car engineering and Formula 1, with a potential for technology transfer between racing and everyday driving.

Solid-state batteries are a major advancement in EV technology. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that use a liquid electrolyte, solid-state batteries utilize a solid electrolyte - hence the name. This fundamental change improves cell safety and opens the door to using new materials like lithium metal for the anode. The result is a battery with higher energy density and a lighter weight. Mercedes-Benz has even secured a patent for its innovative floating cell carrier, designed to accommodate the volume changes that occur within solid-state batteries during charging and discharging.

The solid-state batteries promise to increase the gravimetric energy density – the amount of energy stored per unit of mass – up to 450 Wh/kg at the cell level. This, in theory, means a potential range increase of up to 25% compared to a standard EQS battery of the same size and weight. The development vehicle is projected to achieve a range exceeding 620 miles.

Mercedes-Benz's partnership with Factorial Energy started in 2021. For this latest project, Factorial provided lithium-metal solid-state battery cells featuring their proprietary FEST® (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) platform. This is the first delivery of lithium metal solid-state battery B samples to a global automaker. The Formula 1 experts HPP played a crucial role in developing the battery system and integrating it into the EQS.

The road tests will provide Mercedes-Benz with crucial data on the performance and reliability of the solid-state batteries in real-world driving conditions. These insights will be essential for the potential integration of this technology into future production vehicles. The company will also conduct extensive laboratory tests to complement the road trials.

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