Mercedes-Benz electric cars are likely to get a big boost in range in a few years. The German car brand is working with American company Factorial to equip cars with solid-state batteries.
The new battery, called Solstice, is a solid-state battery. Unlike current lithium-ion batteries, which use a liquid electrolyte, a solid-state battery uses a solid as the electrolyte. This not only provides a higher energy density and charging speed, but also reduces the risk of fire.
The energy density of the Solstice battery, which Tuesday it was announcedis impressive, with 450 watt-hours per kilogram. For comparison: the best batteries in electric cars achieve up to 300 watt-hours per kilogram. This means that future electric Mercedes models with the same battery size will be able to drive much further.
More sustainable production process
In addition to improved performance, the Solstice battery also promises a more sustainable production process. No polluting solvents are needed during production and the energy-consuming ‘formation process’ can also be skipped.
The formation process is a step in battery production where the electrodes are charged and discharged multiple times to optimize their capacity. The absence of this process results in lower production costs and a smaller environmental impact.
When in the first cars?
Unfortunately, you’ll have to be patient before you can buy a Mercedes with such batteries. Factorial expects that the first cars with Solstice batteries will not come onto the market until the end of this decade. Mercedes-Benz already believes in the potential: the company is closely involved in the development and has invested millions of euros in Factorial in recent years.
Also watch our review video about the Renault Scenic, which was voted Car of the Year.
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Source: www.bright.nl
