Mercedes-Benz has successfully conducted a real-world test on a prototype solid-state battery, delivering encouraging results. The trial was carried out using an EQS model equipped with a lithium-metal solid-state battery. The EV completed a remarkable 1,205 km journey on a single charge, travelling from Stuttgart, Germany, through Denmark, and ending in Malmö, Sweden.
Additionally, when the EQS arrived in Malmö, it still had an extra 137 km of range left. This showcases the potential of solid-state batteries and how they can help overcome the range anxiety that still lingers around EVs.
The solid-state battery used in the trial was developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), the Formula 1 technology centre of the Mercedes-Benz Group in Brixworth, UK. It incorporates cells supplied by US-based firm Factorial Energy.
While the prototype matches the weight and size of the standard production EQS battery, the company claims it delivers up to 25 per cent more usable range. Additional gains in efficiency are achieved through passive airflow cooling, the company added.
Following the February announcement of road trials, the drive from Stuttgart, Germany, to Malmö, Sweden, was part of the automaker’s comprehensive validation programme for solid-state battery technology. The company said the goal is to assess overall vehicle performance across varying climate zones and route profiles, while also accelerating the path to series production. The Malmö trip adds a genuine long-distance scenario to the testing process.
“The solid-state battery is a true gamechanger for electric mobility,” said Mercedes-Benz Group chief technology officer Markus Schäfer. “With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that this technology delivers not only in the lab but also on the road.”
The solid-state battery has been regarded as the next big technology in the EV sector of the automotive industry. Many manufacturers are currently in the process of developing them, including BMW and Rimac. Furthermore, with Mercedes-Benz showcasing the potential of the technology, it might be just a matter of time before we see the automaker’s own EVs equipped with it.
(Source: Mercedes-Benz Press Release)
