Mercedes faucets Factorial cells and F1 specialists to fast-track solid-state developments. By Megan Lampinen
Strong-state batteries promise a step change in electrical car (EV) security and efficiency, as soon as they lastly make it into mass manufacturing. Whereas analysis efforts have been underway for a few years, just about all purposes stay within the prototype and trial stage. Current developments at Mercedes-Benz, nevertheless, level to promising progress. The automaker goals to launch an EV with solid-state batteries by the top of the last decade, and is presently street testing the expertise in a modified EQS.
In direction of collection integration
Mercedes has been creating batteries of 1 type or one other for the reason that Seventies and dealing on lithium-ion for practically 20 years. The transfer to a solid-state chemistry might be a recreation changer. It’s been engaged on this entrance along with US solid-state battery developer Factorial Vitality since 2021 and took supply of the primary lithium metallic solid-state battery B pattern cargo in summer season of 2024.
“Strong-state brings an enormous enhance in cell power density,” explains Uwe Keller, Head of Mercedes-Benz Battery Improvement. “With immediately’s lithium-ion batteries, you get a gravimetric power density of 200-300 Wh/kg. With solid-state, we’re going as much as 450 Wh/kg. Meaning we are able to get 25% extra vary from the identical measurement and weight battery.”
Drawing on Factorial’s cells and engineering enter from the racing consultants at Mercedes AMG Excessive Efficiency Powertrains (HPP), the automaker has built-in a brand new solid-state battery pack into an EQS. The car was modified to accommodate the battery and outfitted with the mandatory equipment to function it. Laboratory checks started in Stuttgart on the finish of 2024 forward of street testing, which kicked off in February 2025. Talking on the time, Mercedes-Benz Chief Expertise Officer Markus Schäfer commented on how the testing will present “essential insights into potential collection integration of this cutting-edge battery expertise.”
Improvements
Preliminary suggestions factors to a 621-mile vary—25% greater than a corresponding customary EQS battery—together with notable security advances. “We exchange the liquid electrolyte with a strong materials that has a better flammable temperature,” Keller tells Automotive World. “And since solid-state cells usually work at greater temperatures, we swap from lively to passive cooling.” This opens the door to extra weight and power effectivity. The brand new chemistry additionally permits for the usage of new anodes, like lithium-metal, which carry extra power. “For the primary time, we’re utilizing a lithium metallic foil anode, not the same old graphite or silicon anode,” he notes
One other innovation throughout the new battery pack addresses battery strain. In solid-state batteries, strain is pivotal to sustaining good strong–strong ionic interface contact throughout charging and discharging. “You don’t have the liquid there serving to the lithium ions transfer from the anode to the cathode, or the opposite approach round,” observes Keller. “The interfaces between them must be connected very completely, and that is finished by way of strain—actually excessive strain. There are programs as much as 3MPa and past.” Compared, a median bicycle tyre can be pumped as much as roughly 0.2MPa. “That is greater than ten occasions that strain. To keep up that in a battery is kind of tough.”
Along with colleagues at Mercedes AMG HPP, his crew developed a floating cell service system with a pneumatic actuator that helps preserve a relentless strain on the cells whereas permitting motion on the similar time. “That is very distinctive, and patented,” he emphasises.
Non-negotiable
Price and effectivity are on the coronary heart of battery innovation, however it’s additionally about sustainability, reliability, and security for Keller and his battery growth crew. Sustainability encompasses CO2 footprint, repairability and recycling, whereas reliability seems to make sure the battery efficiency over the car’s lifetime and past. Security encompasses not simply the battery however the entire car, going above and past official laws. He describes these three metrics as “non-negotiable”.
Inside these guiding rules, there’s room for a number of options and chemistries that can be utilized off the identical or comparable fundamental platforms. “We expect there can be multiple answer for customers, and solid-state can play a job inside this,” says Keller.
For now, the main focus is on street testing the solid-state EQS and evaluating its efficiency in the actual world. “You can’t management circumstances outdoors the lab; the actual problem is knowing the efficiency you possibly can carry there. You check and analyse outcomes, then you definitely make enhancements to the software program or the {hardware}.” This stage will final a 12 months or longer, although the participation of the HPP group ought to assist. As Keller notes: “These F1 guys are very quick in prototyping.”
Mercedes is certainly not the one model racing to place a solid-state car available on the market. Factorial has solid-state growth contracts with Stellantis, Hyundai and Kia, all of which have comparable ambitions. Stellantis is gearing as much as launch an illustration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona fashions incorporating Factorial’s solid-state batteries in 2026. The batteries for use within the Charger Daytona provide a particular power density of greater than 390Wh/kg. CATL, BYD, QuantumScape, and ProLogium are just some of the opposite corporations creating solid-state expertise, every with their very own illustrious checklist of automaker companions.
By 2030, Mercedes hopes to have solid-state expertise powering a manufacturing passenger automotive and hopefully attracting new patrons. “From the patron facet there’s been some hesitance about adopting EVs, however a expertise like solid-state and the efficiency advantages it brings can actually assist with that,” concludes Keller.
