Mercedes-Benz is already testing solid-state battery EVs promising +600 miles range
The race for the “holy grail” of EV batteries is heating up. Mercedes-Benz is now testing EVs with solid-state batteries on the road, which could unlock over 600 miles of driving range.
Mercedes solid-state battery-powered EVs hit the road
Mercedes is working with US-based Factorial Energy to launch the new battery tech, promising more driving range, faster charging, and efficiency.
Last summer, Factorial delivered its first solid-state battery cells based on its propriety FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology).
Mercedes and Factorial took it a step further, revealing the more advanced all-solid-state Solstice battery in September. The new batteries are being co-developed to power Mercedes’ next-gen electric models. With a sulfide-based solid electrolyte, the battery is safer and more efficient.
With a “breakthrough” energy density of 450 Wh/kg, Factorial said the new Solstice battery is expected to provide 80% more driving range than current lithium-ion batteries.
According to Autocar, Mercedes is already testing EVs with solid-state battery tech on the road. The tests are taking place in the UK using an EQS prototype equipped with the new batteries.
Although full specs have yet to be confirmed, Mercedes said the EQS’s 12-module battery housing was flexible enough for different configurations.
Mercedes expects the new battery to extend the driving range by about 25%. The current EQS 450+ rated with up to 511 WLTP miles range would suggest a driving range of over 620 miles.
Factorial aims to unlock over 600 miles of driving range with 40% weight savings compared to conventional Li-ion batteries. The company says Solstice is 33% smaller than a current 90 kWh battery at 580 lbs.
In December, Factorial announced a major milestone after its Solstice all-solid-state battery cells achieved 40 Ah capacity. The company is working with other major automakers, including Hyundai and Stellantis, to advance solid-state battery technology and aims to launch solid-state batteries by 2030.
According to Mercedes chief tech officer Markus Shafer, the new Solstice batteries will “set new standards in range, cost, and performance. ” Mercedes expects to be producing solid-state batteries at scale by the end of the decade.
Electrek’s Take
Mercedes is among several automakers and other companies developing solid-state batteries in hopes of unlocking more range, safety, and efficiency.
The news comes after local reports earlier this month suggested Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery demo line in March. Japanese rival Honda unveiled its pilot line to the public in November.
Stellantis announced plans to launch a fleet of electric Dodge Chargers powered by Factorials solid-state batteries in 2026.
Hyundai, Honda, Toyota, Stellantis, and others aim to mass-produce solid-state batteries by the end of the decade.
And don’t forget that Chinese EV battery leaders BYD and CATL are also racing to launch solid-state batteries. Which company will come out on top?
Source: Autocar
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China just laid out a plan to roll out over 100,000 ultra-fast EV charging stations by 2027 – and they’ll all be open to the public.
The National Development and Reform Commission’s (NDRC) joint notice, issued on Monday, asks local authorities to put together construction plans for highway service areas and prioritize the ones that see 40% or more usage during holiday travel rushes.
The NDRC notes that China’s ultra-fast EV charging infrastructure needs upgrading as more 800V EVs hit the road. Those high-voltage platforms can handle super-fast charging in as little as 10 to 30 minutes, but only if the charging hardware is up to speed.
China had 31.4 million EVs on the road at the end of 2024 – nearly 9% of the country’s total vehicle fleet. But charging access is still catching up. As of May 2025, there were 14.4 million charging points, or roughly 1 for every 2.2 EVs.
To keep the grid running smoothly, China wants new chargers to be smart, with dynamic pricing to incentivize off-peak charging and solar and storage to power the charging stations.
To make the business side work, the government is pushing for 10-year leases for charging station operators, and it’s backing the buildout with local government bonds.
The NDRC emphasized that the DC fast chargers built will be open to the public. This is a big deal because a lot of fast chargers in China aren’t. For example, BYD’s new megawatt chargers aren’t open to third-party vehicles.
As of September 2024, China had expanded its charging infrastructure to 11.4 million EV chargers, but only 3.3 million were public.
Read more: California now has nearly 50% more EV chargers than gas nozzles
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Tesla is starting to experience some consequences for misleading Full Self Driving customers – at least that’s the finding of one arbitration ruling that has Tesla refunding one customer $10,000 plus legal fees for failing to deliver on their promises. Find out more on today’s legally challenging episode of Quick Charge!
An arbitration “court” found that Tesla misled customers with its Full Self Driving product, and has now been forced to refund at least one person’s $10,000 payment (plus legal fees) for the not-quite autonomous driving software. France, too, is piling on claims of deceptive business practices – but there’s some good news for FSD fans! If you’re still willing to pay for it, Tesla will thrown in 0% financing on a brand new Cybertruck.
Check out the relevant links, below, to learn more.
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If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
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