Factorial delivers 106+ amp-hour solid-state cells to Mercedes-Benz to validate for EV use
Seven months after shipping out A-samples of its 100+ amp-hour (Ah) solid-state battery cells to automotive partners, Factorial Inc. is sending more energy-dense B-samples to Mercedes-Benz. Through a joint development agreement with Factorial, Mercedes will further validate the next phase of solid-state batteries, moving one step closer to integration in future passenger EVs.
Factorial Inc. is a solid-state battery developer based in Massachusetts that specializes in energy-dense cell technology for EV applications. For years, we’ve been following the progress of its flagship product, the 100 Amp-hour (Ah) Factorial Electrolyte System Technology (FEST) solid-state cell, as the company continues to push forward to scaled integration with automotive partners.
Factorial’s battery technology has been cleverly designed to be compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment, enabling automakers to transition the next-generation lithium-metal cells more seamlessly.
The solid-state cells have already been UN-certified, and A-samples began being shipped out to OEM partners in October of 2023. Factorial is expanding cell development and production at a brand-new facility in its home state, and this past April, it announced a memorandum of understanding with battery veteran LG Chem to expedite the process.
Today, Factorial has announced another key milestone: it will deliver its next wave of solid-state samples to its development partner and notable automotive name, Mercedes-Benz.
Mercedes to further validate Factorial’s solid-state cells
Per Factorial Inc., its lithium-metal B-sample solid-state battery cells have successfully been delivered to Mercedes-Benz as part of an ongoing joint development agreement. Factorial states this is the world’s first (announced) B-sample shipment of solid-state battery cells to a global automotive OEM.
Factorial delivered over 1,000 100+Ah solid-state cells to Mercedes-Benz as part of the aforementioned A-sample phase. Today, it is touting its B-sample delivery as another critical milestone, arguing its case as a key provider of solid-state technology to leading automakers exploring next-generation batteries and demonstrating its ability to produce the cells at high volume. Factorial co-founder and CEO Siyu Huang elaborated:
We are thrilled to advance to the B-sample phase and to mark this milestone with a global automotive leader like Mercedes-Benz. This swift progression from A-sample to B-sample delivery in under a year highlights Factorial’s rapid innovation capabilities and we continue to push the envelope to accelerate the adoption of solid-state batteries in the automotive sector. As a U.S. cell maker, we believe our high energy density cell will help build more efficient and sustainable vehicles that will set new standards for electric vehicle range, cost and performance globally.
With the slightly more energy-dense B-sample solid-state cells in its possession, Mercedes will integrate them into EV modules and battery packs for extensive testing and optimization, with hopes to one day offer them to consumers in passenger vehicles. Chief technology officer and member of the board of Management at Mercedes-Benz Group AG, Markus Schäfer, also spoke:
We are committed to leading in innovative battery technologies, and our partnership with Factorial is a significant part of this strategy. These B-sample batteries give us the opportunity to further validate this next-generation battery technology with the goal of enhancing range and performance, reducing overall vehicle costs, and offering the most desirable electric vehicles to our customers.
In addition to validating the next wave of solid-state cells, Mercedes said it will monitor Factorial’s supply chain and manufacturing processes to ensure genuine scalability should the German automaker pursue future vehicle testing and a rollout to the EV market.
Factorial also has joint development agreements with Stellantis, Hyundai Motor Company, and Kia Corporation. There is no word on if and when those other OEMs will see the B-sample cells, but we expect them also to explore the plausibility of integration in their respective EVs.
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Fueled by incentives from the Illinois EPA and the state’s largest utility company, new EV registrations nearly quadrupled the 12% first-quarter increase in EV registrations nationally – and there are no signs the state is slowing down.
Despite the dramatic slowdown of Tesla’s US deliveries, sales of electric vehicles overall have perked up in recent months, with Illinois’ EV adoption rate well above the Q1 uptick nationally. Crain’s Chicago Business reports that the number of new EVs registered across the state totaled 9,821 January through March, compared with “just” 6,535 EVs registered in the state during the same period in 2024.
Those numbers represent more than 50% growth in EV registrations – far beyond the expected 12% first-quarter increase nationally being projected by Cox Automotive. (!)
What’s going on in Illinois?
While President Trump and Elmo were running for re-election, they campaigned on the threat promise of canceling the $7,500 federal tax credit for EVs. Along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ Governor JB Pritzker made countermoves – launching a $4,000 rebate for new electric cars and up to $1,500 for the purchase of a new electric motorcycle.
At the same time, the state’s largest utility, ComEd, launched a $90 million EV incentive program featuring a new Point of Purchase initiative to deliver instant discounts to qualifying business and public sector customers who make the switch to electric vehicles. That program has driven a surge in Class 3-6 medium duty commercial EVs, which are eligible fro $20-30,000 in utility rebates on top of federal tax credits and other incentives (Class 1-2 EVs are eligible for up to $7,500).
We covered the launch of those incentives when the program was announced at Chicago Drives Electric last year, but the message here is simple: incentives work.
SOURCES: Chicago Business, Ray Cunningham; featured image by the author.
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The electric construction equipment experts at XCMG just released a new, 25 ton electric crawler excavator ahead of bauma 2025 – and they have their eye on the global urban construction, mine operations, and logistical material handling markets.
Powered by a high-capacity 400 kWh lithium iron phosphate battery capable of delivering up to 8 hours of continuous operation, the XE215EV electric excavator promises uninterrupted operation at a lower cost of ownership and with even less downtime than its diesel counterparts.
XCMG is delivering on part of that reduced downtime promise with the lower maintenance and easier repair needs of electric equipment, and delivering on the rest of it with lickety-quick DC fast charging that can recharge the machine’s massive battery in 1.5-2 hours … but that’s not the slick bit. The XCMG XE125EV can be powered up without leaving the job site thanks to its BYD battery swap technology.
We first covered XCMG and its battery swap technology back in January, and covered similar battery-swap tech being developed by MOOG Construction offshoot ZQUIP, as well – but while XCMG’s battery tech has been in production for several years, it’s still not widely known about in the West (even within the industry).
XCMG showed off its latest electric equipment at the December 2024 bauma China, including an updated version of its of its 85-ton autonomous electric mining truck that features a fully cab-less design – meaning there isn’t even a place for an operator to sit, let alone operate. And that’s too bad, because what operator wouldn’t want to experience an electric truck putting down 1070 hp more than 16,000 lb-ft of torque!?
Easy in, easy out
The best part? All of the company’s heavy equipment assets – from excavators to terminal tractors to dump trucks and wheel loaders – all use the same 400 kWh BYD battery packs, Milwaukee tool style. That means an equipment fleet can utilize x number of vehicles with a fraction of the total battery capacity and material needs of other asset brands. That’s not just a smart use of limited materials, it’s a smarter use of energy.
You can check out all the XE215EV’s specs at this tear sheet, and get an in-person look at the Chinese company’s latest electric excavator this week in Munich, Germany.
SOURCE | IMAGES: XCMG.
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As “extreme” weather events become more commonplace, the demand for reliable and portable energy continues to rise. In response to that growing demand for dependable off-grid power, Volvo has developed the new PU500 Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) designed to take electrical power when it’s needed most.
Designed to be deployable in a number of environments at a moment’s notice, the Volvo Energy PU500 BESS is equipped with approximately 500 kWh of usable battery capacity (up to 540 kWh total). More than enough juice, in other words, to power a remote construction site, disaster response effort, or even a music festival – anything that needs access to reliable electricity beyond a grid connection.
That’s great, but what sets the PU500 apart from other battery storage solutions is its integrated 240 kW DC fast charger.
“With an integrated CCS2 charger, the PU500 is designed to work with all brands of electric equipment, trucks, and passenger cars,” says Niklas Thulin, Head of BESS Product Offer at Volvo Energy. “This ensures that no matter what type of electric vehicle or machinery you rely on, the PU500 can provide the power you need, making it a truly flexible solution for any grid constrained site or location.”
The integrated charger in the PU500 has the impressive ability to charge a heavy equipment asset (be that an electric semi truck or something like a wheel loader) in under two hours. Its on-board capacity allows to fully recharge up to 3 electric HD trucks or 20 electric cars per day, making it an incredibly versatile disaster response asset.
Electrek’s Take
As we often say over at The Heavy Equipment Podcast, “just because you’re working for the power company doesn’t mean you have power,” and there are hundreds of scenarios where the extra power provided by something like the new PU500 would be useful. Its ability to be palletized and easily moved or swapped out of a larger BESS array, too, just add to its flexibility.
SOURCE | IMAGES: Volvo.
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