Mercedes will start testing EVs with solid-state batteries on the road ‘in a few months’
Mercedes-Benz is doubling down on solid-state EV batteries with ultra-long range and fast charging capabilities for its next-gen vehicles. With two partners accelerating development, Mercedes is on track to begin testing EVs with solid-state batteries in just a few months.
After Mercedes and Factorial introduced their latest breakthrough, the Solstice all-solid-state EV battery, this week, the company said it’s on track to hit the market by 2030.
Factorial said the new tech will increase EV range by up to 80% with a “breakthrough” energy density of 450 Wh/kg. It’s also 33% smaller than current tech for even higher efficiency.
The US-based company aims to provide over 600 miles of driving range (compared to current Li-ion batteries) with a 40% weight reduction.
With a safer design, the new batteries also don’t require heavy cooling systems, which will help cut costs further.
Mercedes led Factorial’s 2022 investment round, which also included rivals Hyundai and Stellantis. According to chief tech officer Markus Shaefer, the new batteries are a “cornerstone of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy and commitment” to leading EV battery development.
Shaefer explained the new all-solid-state EV batteries will “set new standards in range, cost, and performance.”
Although not due out until the end of the decade, Mercedes plans to get EVs with solid-state batteries on the road for testing much sooner.
Mercedes to begin testing EVs with solid-state batteries
The announcement comes after Factorial delivered B-sample solid-state battery cells to Mercedes this summer using its FEST platform.
Mercedes is also working with Prologium, which opened “the world’s first giga-level solid-state lithium ceramic battery factory” in Taiwan earlier this year.
Prologium said it has “successfully overcome” the challenges with mass-producing solid-state EV batteries. The company claims it can manufacture solid-state batteries at the same cost as mainstream batteries.
With two partners, Mercedes is confident in producing solid-state EV batteries at scale by 2030.
Meanwhile, the company is preparing to begin testing the new batteries on the streets. According to Oliver Fenzl, Mercedes’ communications manager for drivetrain tech, it could be just a few months away.
Fenzl said, “Together with Prologium and Factorial, Mercedes-Benz develops the solid-state technology further and integrates its Mercedes-Benz DNA on a cell level.” He added, “We will see the technology on the road for testing already in a few months.”
The breakthrough comes as several rivals, including Toyota, are advancing solid-state EV batteries. Toyota’s plans to develop and produce all-solid-state EV batteries gained approval from Japan’s Ministry of Trade and Industry this week.
Toyota also plans to begin producing all-solid-state EV batteries by 2030. The approval comes as Japan aims to secure a domestic supply chain to reduce its reliance on China and South Korea.
Environment
U.S. crude oil falls below $60 a barrel to lowest since 2021 on tariff-fueled recession fears
A view shows disused oil pump jacks at the Airankol oil field operated by Caspiy Neft in the Atyrau Region, Kazakhstan April 2, 2025.
Pavel Mikheyev | Reuters
U.S. oil prices dropped below $60 a barrel on Sunday on fears President Donald Trump’s global tariffs would push the U.S., and maybe the world, into a recession.
Futures tied to U.S. West Texas intermediate crude fell more than 3% to $59.74 on Sunday night. The move comes after back-to-back 6% declines last week. WTI is now at the lowest since April 2021.
Worries are mounting that tariffs could lead to higher prices for businesses, which could lead to a slowdown in economic activity that would ultimately hurt demand for oil.
Oil futures, 5 years
The tariffs, which are set to take effect this week, “would likely push the U.S. and possibly global economy into recession this year,” according to JPMorgan. The firm on Thursday raised its odds of a recession this year to 60% following the tariff rollout, up from 40%.
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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