The technology to change the EV industry for the better might be closer than we thought. Mercedes-Benz is already testing solid-state batteries in its EVs on the road. The holy grail of EV batteries is expected to deliver over 600 miles of range. When might it hit the market?
Mercedes Will Bring New Battery Tech To Market Soon
Mercedes notched a major milestone in EV technology earlier this year when it put the first car on the road powered by a solid-state battery made of lithium metal. Mercedes has been testing these batteries in the UK since February. The battery pack was developed by the Mercedes parts and Formula 1 supplier unit for AMG high-performance powertrains.
Mercedes is also teaming up with Factorial Energy, based in the United States, to finally bring the new battery tech to market. Factorial and Mercedes recently revealed the solid-state battery dubbed Solstice. The new batteries are expected to improve range by about 25% and will likely be at the core of Mercedes’s next EV generation. The first models powered by this technology could hit the market by 2030.
Current EV Batteries Can’t Sustain the Market
According to the head of the Mercedes development team, the company plans to bring the technology into its cars by the end of the decade. He also stated that current batteries can’t sustain the market, and that new chemistry is needed. The collaboration between Mercedes and Factorial uses a sulfide-based solid electrolyte chemistry, which is described as safer and more efficient.
Along with providing a longer range, Mercedes believes the new battery technology will reduce the costs of producing an EV by a significant amount. However, the focus tends to be on improving the driving range of electric vehicles. Looking at the Mercedes EQS 450+ with its current range of 511 miles, a 25% increase would push it to over 620 miles of range.
Factorial Brings in Other OEMs
Factorial isn’t just collaborating with Mercedes, but also other leading OEMs like Hyundai and Stellantis. These companies also want to introduce solid-state EV batteries in their models by 2030. Several other companies like Volkswagen, BMW, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan are planning to use the new batteries as well. According to MG’s brand manager, the new MG4 will be the first mass-market EV to be sold internationally with semi-solid-state batteries. In other words, many major automotive companies around the world are racing to invest in better battery technology for the future of EVs.
BYD and CATL, global EV battery leaders based in China, are also planning to advance the new EV batteries. CATL is the world’s largest manufacturer and supplier of lithium-ion batteries, while BYD produces its own batteries and is a major EV manufacturer in China. Both companies are strongly pursuing and investing in developing advanced battery technology, such as ultra-fast charging batteries and solid-state batteries.
The Chinese government also strongly supports EV technology and the development of new battery technology. Some experts have even said that CATL’s technology is better than Tesla’s at the moment.
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