Mercedes will start testing electric vehicles with solid-state batteries in the coming months

Mercedes will start testing electric vehicles with solid-state batteries in the coming months

Mercedes-Benz is increasingly focusing on solid-state batteries for electric vehicles with fast charging capability at very long distances in next-generation vehicles. With 2 partners accelerating development, Mercedes is on track to start testing electric vehicles with solid-state batteries in just a few months.

After Mercedes and Factorial announced their latest breakthrough this week, the Solstice solid-state EV battery, the company said it plans to hit the market by 2030.

The U.S.-based company is aiming for a range of more than 600 miles compared to current lithium-ion batteries, and is aiming for a 40% lighter weight.

Thanks to its safer design, the new battery also requires no heavy cooling system, which contributes to a further reduction in cost.

Mercedes led the 2022 investment round of Factorial, which also involved competitors Hyundai and Stellantis. Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer, said the new batteries are "the cornerstone of Mercedes-Benz's strategy and commitment" to advance the development of batteries for electric vehicles.

He explained that the new solid-state batteries for electric vehicles "set new standards in terms of range, cost and performance."

Even if market entry is not expected by the end of 10 years, Mercedes plans to bring electric vehicles with solid-state batteries to the road for testing purposes

The announcement comes after Factorial delivered a b-sample solid-state battery cell to Mercedes via a fixed platform this summer.

Mercedes is also working with Prolodium, which opened the "world's first solid-state lithium ceramic battery factory at the Giga level" in Taiwan earlier this year.

And it said it had "successfully mastered" the challenges of mass production of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. The company claims that it can produce solid-state batteries at the same cost as conventional batteries.