Mercedes-Benz and Factorial’s Breakthrough Solid-State Battery Tech Promises 80% EV Range Boost

After years of collaboration, Mercedes-Benz and the battery company Factorial are making strides in creating effective solid-state battery technology for electric vehicles, potentially increasing their range by 80%.

On Tuesday, Factorial revealed that its newly developed Solstice solid-state battery cell, created in partnership with Mercedes, has the potential to enhance electric vehicle range by as much as 80% due to its higher energy density. According to Factorial, this improvement enables more energy to be stored in the same space, leading to more compact battery packs that not only lighten the vehicle's weight but also improve its overall efficiency.

Solid-state cells with factorial design

The increase in range surpasses the initial 50% enhancement Factorial mentioned as it started supplying automakers with test cells in 2022. In the subsequent year, Factorial, hailing from Massachusetts, launched what it claimed to be the biggest solid-state electric vehicle battery manufacturing site in the United States, located in a suburb of Boston. During its inception, Factorial announced that the $50 million plant, which is quite modest compared to the massive "giga-scale" battery production sites of today, aimed to eventually churn out batteries with a collective capacity of up to 200 megawatt-hours per year on its production line.

Factorial states that the Solstice cell, which utilizes a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, maintains stability even when the temperature exceeds 194 degrees Fahrenheit. This characteristic potentially decreases the need for extensive cooling systems. Additionally, similar to its peers in the solid-state battery industry, Factorial asserts that their batteries present a reduced fire hazard when compared to those with liquid electrolytes.

Factorial Energy's 40-ampere-hour solid-state power cell.

In 2021, Mercedes teamed up with Factorial for a collaborative project focusing on battery innovation and subsequently played a leading role, together with Stellantis, in a funding initiative that secured $200 million for Factorial in 2022. Hyundai is another notable investor in Factorial.

Various car manufacturers are investing in the advancement of solid-state battery technology, with some opting for internal research and development and others forming alliances with emerging companies. Volkswagen is a notable investor in QuantumScape, whereas both Nissan and Toyota are focusing on creating solid-state batteries within their own facilities. Toyota has announced its intention to start producing these batteries around 2026, aiming to increase its electric vehicle production by ten times.

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