Mercedes EQS Solid State Prototype Takes to the Streets with a Range of 621 Miles | Carscoops

      The new battery provides a 25% increase in range compared to its lithium-ion equivalent.

      7 hours ago

      by Michael Gauthier

      Mercedes has started testing an EQS fitted with a solid-state battery.

      This battery offers 25% more range than a lithium-ion battery of similar size and weight.

      Solid-state batteries are recognized for their higher energy densities and safety advantages over traditional batteries.

      Often regarded as a breakthrough for electric vehicles (EVs), solid-state batteries promise improved safety and greater energy densities compared to lithium-ion variants. However, their use has been mostly confined to laboratory settings.

      This is beginning to change, as Mercedes has initiated road tests of a “slightly modified” EQS incorporating a lithium-metal solid-state battery. It utilizes cells provided by Factorial Energy and features a floating cell carrier.

      As the company elaborated, “When the battery charges, the materials expand, and when it discharges, they contract.” To accommodate this, the battery is equipped with “pneumatic actuators that interact with the cell volume changes during charging and discharging, impacting the battery’s performance and longevity.”

      Additionally, Mercedes noted that the battery employs a solid electrolyte rather than a liquid one, which enhances cell safety and permits the use of new anodes such as lithium metal. This could potentially boost the gravimetric energy density of EV batteries up to 450 Wh/kg, leading to lighter and more compact batteries.

      For the EQS, this battery enables a range of up to 621 miles (1,000 km), which is 25% more than a lithium-ion battery of the same size and weight. Specifically, a standard EQS 450+ with a 118 kWh battery pack has a range exceeding 497 miles (800 km) under the worldwide harmonized light vehicles test procedure.

      The prototype will undergo various tests in the coming months, and Factorial Energy CEO Siyu Huang remarked, “Being the first to successfully integrate lithium-metal solid-state batteries into a production vehicle platform marks a historic achievement in electric mobility. This breakthrough shows that solid-state battery technology has progressed beyond the lab and into real-world use, establishing a new standard for the entire automotive sector.”

      Mercedes’ Chief Technology Officer, Markus Schäfer, echoed her sentiments, stating, “Developing an automotive-scale solid-state battery highlights our dedication to innovation and sustainability.”