Mercedes Required a Solid-State Battery to Compete with Lucid's Electric Vehicle Range Record | Carscoops

      This EQS test demonstrates how solid-state batteries may significantly enhance the range and practical use of electric vehicles (EVs).

      The EQS prototype achieved a remarkable distance of 748.8 miles from Stuttgart to Malmo without any recharging during the trip.

      By the end of the journey, it had an estimated range of 85 miles still available.

      The solid-state battery provides 25% more energy than a conventional battery while maintaining the same weight.

      For years, solid-state batteries have been viewed as the ultimate solution for battery-electric vehicles, promising improved range, faster charging, and enhanced safety. Although it has taken longer than anticipated for these batteries to enter the market, Mercedes-Benz has showcased the potential of this technology.

      The German automaker is testing solid-state batteries in specially modified EQS prototypes. One such vehicle recently traveled from Stuttgart, Germany, across Denmark, and into Malmo, Sweden, achieving an impressive distance of 748.8 miles (1,205 km) on a single charge without recharging.

      Solid-State Advantages

      According to Mercedes, its solid-state battery pack offers 25% more energy compared to the standard battery while keeping similar dimensions and weight. This pack was developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains and the company’s F1 technology center in the UK, utilizing lithium-metal cells from U.S.-based Factorial Energy.

      The distance of 748.8 miles (1,205 km) reached by this EQS prototype exactly matches a recent Guinness World Record established by a Lucid Air Grand Touring, which also completed the same distance on a single charge. The significant distinction is that Lucid’s vehicle utilized a standard 117 kWh lithium-ion battery, while Mercedes accomplished it with a solid-state pack that still had remaining energy.

      Extra Range

      If Mercedes-Benz had chosen to continue its trip with the EQS, it was possible. They report that the prototype had an estimated 85 miles (137 km) of range left at the conclusion of the journey. In theory, this means the electric sedan could have traveled up to 834 miles (1,342 km) without needing a charge, surpassing the capabilities of any current offerings on the market.

      “The solid-state battery is a true gamechanger for electric mobility,” stated Markus Schäfer, a board member of Mercedes-Benz Group AG. “With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we demonstrate that this technology performs not just in a laboratory but on the road as well. Our aim is to bring innovations like this into mass production by the end of the decade and provide our customers with enhanced range and comfort.”