With a pure - electric range of nearly 1,000 kilometers, Mercedes - Benz's solid - state batteries are on the vehicle for testing, and more than 10 domestic and overseas enterprises are making arrangements.
Mercedes-Benz Starts Testing Vehicles Equipped with Solid-State Batteries, with a Range of Up to 1,000 Kilometers!
According to multiple media reports on July 25th, as reported by CheDongXi, Mercedes-Benz is accelerating the process of integrating solid-state batteries into electric vehicles.
Earlier this year, Mercedes-Benz tested its first prototype vehicle equipped with a lithium-metal solid-state battery on British roads. The test vehicle was a modified EQS prototype, and the battery system was jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and its F1 powertrain supplier, Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains (HPP).
To bring this technology to the market, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with the American battery technology company Factorial Energy.
Factorial's Partners
Factorial focuses on developing high-energy-density and safer solid-state batteries and has established partnerships with multiple automakers such as Stellantis and Hyundai.
It is reported that the Solstice all-solid-state battery jointly launched by Mercedes-Benz and Factorial is expected to increase the range of next-generation electric vehicles by 25%.
Solid-State Battery Pack from the Collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Factorial Energy
According to Markus Schäfer, the head of R & D at Mercedes-Benz, the first mass-produced electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery will be officially launched before 2030. At an event in Copenhagen, he even said, "We expect to put this technology into mass production by the end of this year."
In fact, it's not just Mercedes-Benz. Traditional European automakers like BMW and the Volkswagen Group, as well as Chinese companies including Sunwoda, Honeycomb Energy, and Changan Automobile, have also made significant progress in the mass production and R & D of solid-state batteries. The earliest mass production arrangements are expected to be made next year.
Overview of the Mass Production Progress of Solid-State Batteries of Some Enterprises (Compiled Based on Public Information)
In addition, CATL, a leading company in the battery industry, has achieved a density of 500Wh/kg for its condensed-state solid-state batteries, with the goal of mass production in 2027.
BYD and QingTao Energy, as supporters of sulfide and oxide solutions respectively, have also achieved a density of 500Wh/kg, preparing for final mass production.
As a rising star in the electric vehicle industry, Xiaomi is also actively researching solid-state batteries and has publicly disclosed patents related to mass production.
It seems that more than ten companies are preparing for the mass production of solid-state batteries, and vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries may not be far from us.
01.
Mercedes-Benz Begins Testing New Vehicles with Solid-State Batteries
Mass Production Expected Before 2030
Currently, Mercedes-Benz has tested an EQS prototype vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery on British roads to collect data in real-world environments.
This prototype vehicle uses a battery system jointly developed by Mercedes-Benz and HPP, which adopts a sulfide-based solid electrolyte. This solution not only improves the range but also enhances the charging efficiency due to its high ionic conductivity and good interface contact.
Mercedes-Benz EQS Test Vehicle Equipped with a Solid-State Battery
According to Markus Schäfer, the head of R & D at Mercedes-Benz, the first mass-produced vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery will be officially launched before 2030. At a recent public event, he even said that the mass production time of electric vehicles with solid-state batteries may be advanced, and the first batch of mass-produced vehicles could be seen even before the end of 2025.
According to Mercedes-Benz, if the WLTP range of the current EQS 450+ is 511 miles (about 823 kilometers) as a benchmark, a 25% increase from the solid-state battery means the range will exceed 620 miles (about 998 kilometers), approaching the 1,000-kilometer mark.
02.
European Automakers Race to Layout
Diverse Technical Routes
Solid-state batteries are regarded as a key breakthrough for next-generation electric vehicles, with advantages such as higher energy density, stronger safety, and faster charging speed.
In addition to the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Factorial, multiple European automakers are also accelerating their layouts, forming a pattern of parallel advancement of multiple technical routes.
1. Sulfide Route: BMW x Solid Power
Solid Power is a leading American solid-state battery technology company that focuses on the R & D of sulfide-based solid electrolytes. The company has established in - depth partnerships with both the BMW Group and Stellantis.
BMW has signed a Joint Development Agreement (JDA) with Solid Power since 2016 and became a strategic investor in 2021. BMW not only obtained the technology license from Solid Power but also built its own solid-state battery prototype production line in Parsdorf, Germany, for testing and small - scale production.
BMW Test Vehicle Equipped with a Solid-State Battery
BMW aims to launch its first prototype vehicle equipped with a Solid Power solid-state battery before 2025. The test vehicle is the BMW i7, with a range exceeding 800 kilometers and an energy density of 440Wh/kg.
2. Polymer Route: Volkswagen x QuantumScape
QuantumScape is another star enterprise in the field of solid-state batteries, focusing on the technical route of lithium-metal anodes + ceramic polymer electrolytes. One of its largest investors is the Volkswagen Group.
Volkswagen began investing in QuantumScape as early as 2012 and established a joint development platform with it through its battery company, PowerCo.
In July 2024, Volkswagen and QuantumScape announced a new agreement to advance the industrialization process of their next-generation solid-state batteries, with the goal of achieving small - scale mass production in the next few years.
03.
Promising Future for Solid-State Batteries
Domestic Vehicles to Be Equipped as Early as Next Year
According to the calculations of the analysis institution EVTank, all - solid - state batteries will achieve small - scale mass production in 2027 and larger - scale shipments by 2030. It is estimated that the global shipments of solid-state batteries will reach 614.1GWh by 2030, with a penetration rate of about 10% in the overall lithium - ion battery market.
In this regard, with the continuous maturity of technology and the reduction of costs, solid-state batteries are expected to achieve large - scale and commercial applications in the next 5 - 10 years.
Therefore, not only in the European market but also in the Chinese market, the development of solid-state batteries is very rapid.
This month, Changan, Sunwoda, and Honeycomb Energy have successively announced the latest progress of their solid-state batteries.
1. Changan Automobile: Achieve Mass Production of All - Solid - State Batteries in 2027, with a Range Exceeding 1,500 Kilometers
Changan Automobile stated on July 11th that it is fully committed to the R & D of solid-state batteries, expecting to complete vehicle verification in 2026 and gradually promote the mass production of all - solid - state batteries in 2027.
Solid-State Battery from the Collaboration between TaiLan New Energy and Changan Automobile
Its "Golden Bell Cover" battery already has an energy density of 400Wh/kg, a full - charge range exceeding 1,500 kilometers, and has introduced AI remote diagnosis technology to improve the intelligence level of the battery.
2. Sunwoda: Launch the First - Generation All - Solid - State Battery in 2026, with a Maximum Energy Density of 500Wh/kg
Sunwoda confirmed on July 10th that it plans to launch the first - generation all - solid - state battery in 2026 and the second - generation product in 2027. Its solid-state battery uses a sulfide electrolyte, paired with a high - nickel cathode and a silicon - based/lithium - metal anode, with target energy densities of 400Wh/kg and 500Wh/kg respectively.
Currently, Sunwoda has completed the small - scale trial production of a battery with a capacity of 20Ah and an energy density exceeding 400Wh/kg and is simultaneously building a production line, expecting to achieve a production capacity of 1GWh in 2026.
3. Honeycomb Energy: Mass - Produce Semi - Solid Batteries in 2025, Enter the All - Solid - State Market in 2027
Honeycomb Energy announced at its Global Partners Summit on July 10th that it will mass - produce the first - generation semi - solid battery in 2025, with an energy density of 300Wh/kg and obvious cost - control advantages. The second - generation semi - solid battery will have an energy density increased to 360Wh/kg and a capacity of 78Ah.
In the field of all - solid - state batteries, Honeycomb Energy plans to launch a product with an energy density of 400Wh/kg and a capacity of 68Ah, mainly for use in low - altitude aircraft and high - end electric vehicles.
Prototype of Honeycomb Energy's Sulfide - Based All - Solid - State Battery Cell
It is reported that its "thermal composite transfer solid electrolyte process" does not require modifications to the existing production line, and a 2.3GWh mass - production line has been built.
The progress of these three companies shows that the Chinese solid-state battery industry is moving from the laboratory to the mass - production stage and is expected to experience a concentrated outbreak from 2026 - 2027.
Previously, Xiaomi Auto also announced relevant patents for its solid-state batteries, also aiming for mass production.
It can be seen that most players in this field are closely watching.
04.
Conclusion: Solid - State Batteries on the Verge of Breakout
With the continuous investment of major automakers and battery manufacturers, the period from 2025 to 2027 will be the "golden window period" for the industrialization of solid-state batteries.
On the one hand, solid-state batteries can solve range anxiety and safety hazards. On the other hand, they will also become a means to further enhance the market competitiveness of electric vehicles.
Whether it's achieving a range target of over 1,000 kilometers or reaching an energy density of 500Wh/kg, solid-state batteries are gradually moving towards mass production and are ready to take off.
This article is from the WeChat public account "CheDongXi", author: Janson, editor: Zhihao. Republished by 36Kr with permission.