Mercedes‑Benz EQS Solid‑State Battery Breaks Range Records

The search for reliable energy delivery is an ongoing process. The ultimate goal is for an electric vehicle to achieve a more extended range on a full charge, satisfying owners who expect more from their vehicle. With this in mind, Mercedes-Benz tested a lithium-metal solid-state battery pack on an EQS sedan to see whether it could accomplish these goals.  

The drive was a part of a validation program for the new battery set. The program also included digital simulations and testing at the Stuttgart-Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen facilities. The solid-state battery pack was installed in the EQS for real-world testing on public roads. That culminated in the long-distance driving test to Sweden. All in the name of making sure that the solid-state battery pack is not only roadworthy and reliable, but can return real-world results for our electric vehicles. 

The solid-state battery was a cooperative development with Mercedes-AMG®â High Performance Powertrains. This is the unit that develops the drivelines for the Formula 1 team. The lithium-metal cells were sourced from Factorial Energy, which is based on the Factorial Electrolyte System Technology developed by the supplier. 

Utilizing such a battery pack calls for new technology to ensure viability and optimal operation. For example, volume changes occur in such a battery pack. To respond to these changes, pneumatic actuators were used to ensure the necessary contact pressure on the cells. The result is a 25 percent increase in usable content in the battery pack. The weight of the solid-state battery pack is actually the same as that found on the current EQS sedan. However, the new battery pack also adds passive airflow cooling for optimal operation. 

The testing regimen for the long-distance drive included factoring in the route itself, without using any ferries to cross the sea, topography, traffic, ambient temperature, and the use of heating and cooling systems for both the battery and the cabin.   

The results were extraordinary. The EQS, equipped with a solid-state battery pack, was able to travel 749 miles from Stuttgart, Germany, to Malmö, Sweden, without requiring any charging stops. Upon arrival, there were 85 miles of range left on the battery.  

As Mercedes-Benz advances its electric vehicle technology, we believe that you will benefit from our progress in the years to come. To be “the best or nothing,” it means taking new leaps forward into turning good ideas into great vehicles.  

See our electric vehicle lineup at Mercedes-Benz of Plano soon. Contact us to keep ahead of the curve in one of our EV models.