Factorial and Mercedes-Benz Reveals All-Solid-State Battery With 80% Range Boost

Factorial, a manufacturer of solid-state battery technology, has introduced Solstice, a groundbreaking all-solid-state battery developed in partnership with Mercedes-Benz. 

Key Features of Solstice

According to Factorial, the Solstice arrives as an advanced all-solid-state battery with several features and enhancements that make it stand out in the EV battery industry including: 

• Extended Range: With a high energy density of 450Wh/kg, Solstice can potentially extend EV range by up to 80%.
• Enhanced Safety: The battery uses a sulfide-based all-solid-state electrolyte system, addressing safety concerns associated with flammable liquid electrolytes. It aims for a EUCAR safety rating of 2 and can operate at temperatures above 90°C.
• Sustainable Production: A novel dry coating process eliminates the need for hazardous solvents and energy-intensive steps in traditional battery manufacturing.
• Weight Reduction: Factorial claims the technology can achieve 40% weight savings compared to traditionallithium-ion batteries.
• Size Efficiency: The new battery is reportedly 33% smaller than conventional batteries.

Partnership with Mercedes-Benz

The development of Solstice is a result of Factorial’s ongoing collaboration with Mercedes-Benz. This partnership, which began in 2021, includes a joint development agreement and a $200 million investment from Mercedes-Benz in 2022.

Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, stated, “The Solstice solid-state battery technology represents another landmark milestone in our partnership with Factorial, which is a cornerstone of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy and commitment to leading the charge in battery development.”

Factorial expects Solstice to be available to customers in both the electric mobility and consumer electronics industries by the end of the decade. The technology complements Factorial’s existing FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) platform, expanding the company’s total addressable market.

Siyu Huang, CEO and Co-Founder of Factorial, emphasized the technology’s potential stating, “Solstice embodies our team’s technology leadership and the potential of solid-state batteries to address the most significant hurdles for electric vehicle adoption.”

Industry Context Of Solid-State Batteries

With increasing competition in the solid-state battery sector, Toyota recently had its plans for developing and producing all-solid-state EV batteries certified in Japan. Other major automakers including Nissan and Panasonic, are also working on similar technologies as part of Japan’s efforts to secure a stable domestic supply chain for EV batteries.

While solid-state batteries promise significant improvements in EV performance, the technology still faces challenges. Industry experts note that issues such as poor performance in extreme weather conditions have proven more complex than initially anticipated. Nevertheless, the investment and research for further improvement is noted.

Read More: Mercedes-Benz Inaugurates Advanced eCampus For EV Battery Innovation

As Factorial and Mercedes-Benz move forward with Solstice, the battery technology’s real-world performance and scalability will be crucial factors in determining its success in the rapidly evolving EV market.

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