Automakers often lean into their motorsports divisions for inspiration and new technologies, but few companies have a Formula 1 team as a resource. Mercedes-Benz’s Mercedes-AMG® Formula 1 team has developed several technologies that will assist the automaker as it works to bring solid-state batteries to the road.
Solid-state batteries offer higher energy density, lower weight, and a safer overall design than lithium-ion batteries, but the technology has not yet reached the production stage. Mercedes is testing the batteries in its new EQS electric sedan, saying that it needed to modify parts of the car to fit the battery and its required accessories.
Mercedes promises extended range numbers and high efficiency from the new batteries, which replace the liquid electrolytes found in lithium-ion batteries with a solid material. The automaker’s engineers devised a method for compensating for the batteries’ expansion and contraction during charging and said that its battery configuration extends performance and lifespan.
Solid-state batteries promise a significant upgrade over current chemistries. Mercedes expects a 25-percent range increase over the standard EQS battery, which would give it more than 620 miles of driving distance per charge. While all of this is promising, solid-state batteries remain in the early stages of development. That means testing and research work will continue for the foreseeable future.
While the automotive world grapples with shifting electric demand, some automakers have backed off the most aggressive electrification plans, but Mercedes said it will continue pressing forward. Board member Markus Schafer said, “Developing an automotive-scale solid-state battery underlines our commitment to innovation and sustainability. We’re therefore excited to announce that we’ve started road testing with a prototype vehicle equipped with this advanced technology. We will gain crucial insights into possible series integration of this cutting-edge battery technology.”
Mercedes worked with the U.S.-based company Factorial on the new batteries. Factorial’s new FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) batteries are designed to slot into existing vehicle designs and manufacturing processes. The automaker will continue testing the Factorial batteries throughout 2025 as it assesses their viability for mass-produced electric vehicles. These things tend to happen slowly, however, and there are several regulatory hurdles to clear after the initial testing, so don’t expect a solid-state battery in a new Mercedes before the decade’s end at the earliest.
If you want to learn more about the Mercedes-Benz EQS or any other new model, come see us at Mercedes-Benz of Plano. Our knowledgeable staff would be excited to answer questions, walk through the latest tech and safety features, or help you test drive the new Mercedes model of your dreams.
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