Factorial has unveiled Solstice, an all-new, all-solid-state battery co-developed with Mercedes-Benz that it claims can extend maximum EV ranges by up to 80%, reduce vehicle weight and increase vehicle efficiency. The companies say that their new battery offers safety and efficiency enhancements, as well as reduced costs, and will be ready for production by the end of the decade.
While achieving an energy density of up to 450 Wh/kg, which itself enables Solstice’s benefits to EV range, the battery also incorporates a dry cathode design to facilitate more efficient, more sustainable, production. Solstice complements Factorial’s FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) for automotive and other electric mobility applications, and will ultimately help the company expand its total addressable market to include consumer electronics.
Solstice’s sulfide-based all-solid-state electrolyte system works to address safety concerns associated with more flammable, volatile, liquid electrolyte designs – targeting a EUCAR safety rating of 2 and maintaining stability at operating temperatures over 90°C (194°F). In choosing this system, which could also reduce cooling system requirements within the battery pack, Factorial is aiming to help OEMs achieve lower EV costs overall.
At the core of Solistice’s focus on enhancing sustainability within battery production is its dry coating process. Adopting this process eliminates both the need for hazardous solvents and the more energy-intensive steps carried out in traditional cathode production. The dry coating process also bypasses the formation process, which itself represents the most energy-intensive stage of lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Factorial says that, in combining these practices, Solstice can help reduce operating costs, energy consumption, and environmental impact to foster a more sustainable future for battery production.
Factorial and Mercedes-Benz’s announcement of Solstice follows the battery company’s delivery of solid-state battery cell B-samples utilizing FEST to the automaker. Mercedes-Benz had previously entered into a joint development agreement with Factorial in 2021 and led a $200m (£152m / €181m) investment round for the company in 2022.
