Mercedes-Benz is collaborating with battery startup Factorial to produce solid-state batteries for EVs, Reuters reports.
The new battery, called Solstice, would provide 80% greater range than the current average for EVs, having an energy density of 450 Watt-hours per kilogram.
In an announcement earlier this week, the companies said in a statement that they expect the battery to be ready for production by the end of the decade. Factorial has already developed quasi-solid-state batteries that are being tested by Mercedes and other automakers, and are expected to be found in EVs on the road by 2026.
Toyota recently announced plans to begin developing its own solid-state battery and bring it to market by 2027 or 2028.
A solid substitute that substitutes the liquid electrolyte found in other batteries would allow for a more compact size. Solid-state batteries would also not require a cooling system, allowing for more weight to be taken off.
The decreased size would mean fewer costs and the ability to offer EVs at a lower price. As a recent study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy suggested, creating smaller, more efficient batteries may be the key to making EVs as a whole more affordable.
A lighter battery would also allow Mercedes to substitute high-strength aluminum for the less expensive and carbon-intensive material of steel, according to Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schaefer.
Schaefer added that the solid-state batteries being developed with Factorial would provide a 40% increase in energy density compared to the high performance batteries Mercedes is currently using. This could allow the automaker to either shrink battery sizes, or to offer EVs with long ranges.
There are still challenges that remain to be addressed with solid-state batteries, though—namely, their potential to expand and losing performance ability in colder weather.
“There are some challenges that you have to get under control, but ... we have great engineering solutions to address them,” said Schaefer.
