FYI: Mercedes-Benz is leading the charge in electric innovation, debuting a prototype EQS with a cutting-edge solid-state battery offering greater efficiency and extended range.
Mercedes-Benz Innovates with Solid-State Battery EQS
Mercedes-Benz is taking strides in automotive innovation by putting a prototype EQS equipped with a groundbreaking solid-state battery to the test. This new battery technology promises a remarkable 25% range increase over traditional liquid-type batteries.
Lithium Metal Solid-State Battery Collaboration
The project is a result of a collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Factor, a US company specializing in next-generation battery technology. The prototype vehicle is an advanced version of the EQS Electric Full-sized liftback. According to the WLTP test cycle, it aims to achieve over 621 miles on a single charge, surpassing the current production EQS’s 488-mile range.
Advanced Battery Integration
For this cutting-edge EQS prototype, the battery cells were supplied by Factor. Mercedes’ UK-based division, Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrain, was responsible for integrating these cells into the overall battery pack. This pack includes a patented floating cell carrier featuring a pneumatic actuator. This innovation compensates for cell expansion and contraction during charge cycles, enhancing stability and performance.
Benefits of Solid-State Technology
Solid-state batteries represent a significant advancement in electric vehicle (EV) technology, largely due to their use of solid electrolytes in place of liquid ones. This change not only increases safety but allows the use of new, highly efficient anode materials like lithium metals. As a result, these batteries boast a higher energy density than their lithium-ion counterparts.
Achievements and Future Prospects
The EQS prototype currently achieves approximately 25% more energy density than traditional lithium-ion batteries. In past demonstrations, Mercedes and Factor highlighted that the solid-state battery delivered nearly twice the energy density of existing lithium-ion cells, measured at 0.45 kWh per kilogram (about 2.2 pounds).
Mercedes and Factor: Paving the Way for the Future
Mercedes’s partnership with Factor, forged in 2021, anticipates that this innovative solid-state battery technology will become commercially viable by the decade’s end. Once fully developed, Mercedes plans to enhance this technology with new microconverters and advanced cooling systems, potentially allowing for seamless integration with other battery cell types.
Commercialization Challenges
While solid-state batteries are not new to the industry, scaling up production has proven challenging for automakers and battery manufacturers alike. However, the development of this EQS prototype indicates Mercedes’s commitment to overcoming these hurdles and pioneering advances in electric mobility.
Conclusion
Solid-state batteries are setting a new standard in electric vehicle technology, promising increased safety and efficiency. Mercedes-Benz’s pioneering efforts with the EQS prototype highlight their dedication to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in electric vehicle innovation.
For more insights and updates, reach out to us at tips@automotive.fyi, or follow us on Twitter @automotivefyi.
Donald Smith, Editor of Automotive.fyi
