The next frontier in electric-car technology has commenced road testing with German car giant Mercedes-Benz, capable of a claimed 1000km between recharges, with expertise from its F1 engineers.
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Mercedes-Benz has begun testing the next generation of electric-car battery technology – solid-state, promised to boost range and lower prices – on public roads.
The experimental batteries fitted to a Mercedes-Benz EQS sedan prototype claim a range based on European WLTP lab testing of 1000km, compared to the circa-800km of the existing showroom version.
The German car giant has not stated when it expects to have the solid-state batteries in showrooms, but said the prototype on UK roads is "the first lithium metal solid-state battery B sample shipment to a global [car maker]."
Mercedes-Benz is testing the technology in conjunction with its F1 race team engineers.
Solid-state batteries have been billed as the next frontier for electric vehicles, capable of far longer driving ranges than existing technology – as they can store more energy in the same space – plus quicker charging and lower manufacturing costs.
The word ‘solid’ in the name refers to the solid electrolyte in the battery, instead of the liquid version found in the predominantly lithium-ion batteries powering electric cars on sale around the world today.
Solid-state batteries are not yet widely available as the technology is not yet ready to commercialise, and it is expensive.
Developed with US company Factorial Energy – which is also working with Hyundai and Stellantis – Mercedes-Benz said the ‘lithium-metal solid-state battery’ extends range to the 1000km milestone through greater energy density per cell.
This means a smaller solid-state battery can cover the same range as a larger battery pack in production today, with the difference in the EQS test vehicle said to be 25 per cent.
The car maker also says the increased density improves safety, a concern with the technology identified by the boss of the world's largest lithium-ion battery supplier, CATL CEO Dr Robin Zeng.
The executive has claimed the technology – which CATL has invested in for more than a decade – is not yet commercially viable as current solid-state designs see batteries expand during charging, shortening their usable lifespan dramatically.
Mercedes-Benz has looked to combat this with pneumatic actuators developed by its F1 race team, managing the expansion and contraction of the 12-cell solid-state pack.
The CATL boss also pointed to lithium reacting with oxygen as a safety concern if the batteries were to break apart in a collision or other destructive scenario.
A stepping stone towards full solid-state batteries, known as 'semi-solid-state' with solid and liquid sections, has already launched in China through local start-ups to improve on current technology sooner.
Nio launched its ET7 electric sedan with semi-solid state batteries in 2023 with a CLTC range of 1050km – typically around 20 per cent above WLTP distances – validating the claim with a 1044km publicity drive across China.
Other car brands say solid-state battery tech – rather than the in-between alternative – is a while away.
The CLA will be the start of an onslaught of more than two dozen new or updated Mercedes-Benz vehicles, including 17 electric cars and high-performance versions using a new AMG-developed platform.
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