Solid-state EV batteries are making the transition from the laboratory to real-world testing—this week we’ve seen announcements from QuantumScape, Rimac, and now Mercedes-Benz, which demonstrated its solid-state technology on a test drive from Stuttgart, Germany to Malmö, Sweden.

A “lightly modified” Mercedes EQS test vehicle equipped with a lithium-metal solid-state battery completed the 1,205-kilometer (749-mile) trip without a single charging stop, arriving in Malmö with 137 km remaining in the tank. This set a new record for the automaker, edging out its previous achievement of 747 miles set on a 2022 Stuttgart-to-England run.

The Stuttgart-Malmö drive was part of a comprehensive validation program for solid-state battery tech at Mercedes-Benz, which also includes digital simulations and testing at facilities in Stuttgart and Sindelfingen. The goal is to assess overall vehicle performance across different climate zones and route profiles and accelerate the path to series production.

The solid-state battery system was developed in collaboration with Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains (HPP), the Formula 1 technology center of the Mercedes-Benz Group in Brixworth, UK. The lithium-metal cells came from US-based manufacturer Factorial Energy.

To support the cells during the volume changes typical of this technology and to ensure the necessary contact pressure on the cells, the solid-state battery is equipped with pneumatic actuators, which respond to the changes in cell volume during charging and discharging, thereby ensuring the flawless operation of the battery over time. The usable energy capacity of the battery was increased by 25%, while the weight and size of the battery remain comparable to the standard EQS battery. Additional weight and energy efficiency is achieved through passive airflow cooling.

“With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that [solid-state battery] technology delivers not only in the lab but also on the road,” said Mercedes‑Benz Board Member Markus Schäfer. “Our goal is to bring innovations like this into series production by the end of the decade.”

Source: Mercedes