Several years in, a partnership between Mercedes-Benz and battery firm Factorial is finally showing progress toward developing viable solid-state battery tech for EVs.
Factorial on Tuesday announced that its Solstice solid-state battery cell developed in collaboration with Mercedes could boost EV range by up to 80% through greater energy density. This allows for greater energy storage within a given volume, making for smaller battery packs that reduce vehicle weight and increase efficiency, Factorial noted.
Factorial solid-state cells
The range boost is even greater than the 50% Factorial discussed when it began providing test cells to automakers in 2022. The following year, Massachusetts-based Factorial opened what it billed as the largest U.S. solid-state EV battery plant yet in a Boston suburb. Factorial said at the time that the $50 million facility would eventually produce up to 200 megawatt-hours of batteries on its assembly line.
The Solstice cell’s sulfide-based solid electrolyte can also remain stable at temperatures above 194 degrees Fahrenheit, reducing cooling system requirements, according to Factorial. Like other solid-state battery firms, Factorial also claims lower risk of fires compared to liquid electrolytes.
Factorial Energy 40-amp-hour solid-state battery
Mercedes entered int the joint battery-development agreement with Factorial in 2021 and co-led a $200 million funding round for the company alongside Stellantis that was completed in 2022 (Hyundai has also invested in Factorial).
Other automakers are also funding solid-state battery tech, either through in-house development programs or partnerships with startups. Volkswagen has long backed QuantumScape, while Nissan and Toyota have been developing solid-state cells in-house. Toyota recently confirmed plans to begin manufacturing solid-state cells in 2026 as it attempts a tenfold boost in EV production.
Content Disclaimer and Copyright Notice
Content Disclaimer
The content provided on this website is sourced from various RSS feeds and other publicly available sources. We strive to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information, and we always provide source links to the original content. However, we are not responsible for the content’s accuracy or any changes made to the original sources after the information is aggregated on our site.
Fair Use and Copyright Notice
This website may contain copyrighted material, the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We believe this constitutes a “fair use” of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law.
In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
