Mercedes-Benz is already testing an electric car with solid-state batteries that provide a range of about 1,000 km

Many automakers are focused on improving the technology to store the electricity needed to power electric vehicles, and Mercedes-Benz is no exception. A collaboration with Factorial has allowed the German automaker to begin testing solid-state batteries that provide a range of around 1,000 km.

Image source: Mercedes-Benz

At least, this is what the representatives of the German brand admitted in an interview with Autocar. Equipped with solid-state Solstice batteries, a prototype of an electric car based on the Mercedes-Benz EQS is already driving around the roads of Great Britain, collecting the empirical data the manufacturer needs. The traction batteries of the Solstice family use a solid-state sulphide electrolyte, which allows increasing the charge storage density to 450 Wh/kg. Formally, this allows increasing the power reserve by up to 80% of the current one. However, Mercedes-Benz itself suggests counting on a 25% increase in the power reserve. In the case of the EQS sedan, this may mean that according to the WLTP cycle, it will be able to travel up to 992 km without recharging.

It is equally important that the weight of traction batteries is reduced by up to 40%. The specific Solstice battery with a capacity of 90 kWh is one third lighter than a comparable one with liquid electrolyte. Fractal cooperates in this area not only with Mercedes-Benz, but also with Hyundai Motor and Stellantis. The company expects to launch mass production of batteries with solid electrolyte by the end of the current decade. Mercedes-Benz is going to start equipping its cars with them within a comparable time frame.