Mercedes Benz's Revolutionary Solid State Battries

What is a Solid State Battery?

I am sure you have read about Lithium ion battery on the spec sheet of every EV! To give you an example conventional of a Lithium ion battery, it is like a chewable soft caramel candy bar for example Mars or 5 Star. The Caramel is the electrolyte which is squeezed in between two chocolate layers that are electrodes (Anode +ve and Cathode -ve). As you chew or squeez the caramel candy the caramel flows through electrodes and you can enjoy the taste of it, which is how the electrical power is stored and released through the battery. Now, the Solid state battery is like a Wafer Chocolate, like a Kit-Kat! Instead of caramel as gooey electrolyte, here the wafer is a solid electrolyte in between two chocolate layers (electrodes). In this case the wafer doesn't flow as you squeez the chocolate and you can enjoy your wafer chocolate without getting messy improving safety! One can have a multiple thin layers of electrodes (chocolate) therefore making it compact, efficient and reliable than the the Lithium ion batteries.

Joint Venture with Factorial Energy

One of the factors for the success of innovation is Collaboration or Joint ventures with people or companies that are experts in technology and innovation. Mercedes Benz is working with a Massachusett's based Factorial Energy company. The Factorial Energy is specialized in developing solid state batteries and has partnerships with Stellantis, Kia Motors, Hyundai Motors. They have jointly developed the FEST system having an energy density of 450 Wh/kg, having dry cathode coating system (The Chocolate in the candy) eliminating harmful insolvents. The Mercedes Benz has already achieved a whooping 1000 km range on a single charge on their EQS prototype using the solid state battery. This is already 25% more the range of Mercedes Benz EQS 450+ which returns around 800 kms on single charge on 118 kWh battery. Therefore the solid state battery techonology will for sure kill the range anxiety of the car buyers.

Key Feature of the Solid State Battery

This newly developed solid state prototype battery is not just about its chemical composition. However there is a bit of innovation in the construction of the battery. There are pneumatic actuators that can expand or contract the battery cells during its charging allowing it to increase the battery range upto 25%. So basically its a smart wafer chocolate which can compress the chocolate bars to include more chocolate bars inside the packet of Kit-Kat. However this expansion and contraction can form dentrites which can lead to short circuits inside the battery. The Factorial Energy batteries use solid electrolyte based on sulfide making it safer and reliable.

Solid State Batteries: Future of EV Batteries

Besides Mercedes Benz other car manufactures are also widely testing their solid state batteries. However the chances to see the solid state battery powered electric vehicles in next 2 years might be difficult as there are challenges. It needs vigorous testing and verify its safety during crash, fire hazzard etc. The Mercedes Benz has announced that their first EV with Solid State Battery will be launched by end of 2030. Similary other EV manufacturers are working on various battery technologies for better range, efficiency.

Summary

Solid state batteries are future of EV's, honestly its hard to say at this point. Because each every car manufacturer is struggling to convince the customers to buy EV's. Therefore the companies such as Honda, Toyota, BMW are working on alternate fuel technologies such as Hydrogen powered engines, fuel cell technology to diversify their product range. On the other side Porsche, VW and Mercedes Benz are going back to developing efficient ICE engines that will be compliant with strict emission norms and other regulations. What are your thoughts on this topic. Let me know your comments in the section below or write me on writetous@themotoringminute.com

Image Credits: Official website of Merces Benz, Nestle, Mars

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