Factorial has announced Solstice, an all-new all-solid-state battery co-designed with Mercedes-Benz designed to enhance the safety, performance, and sustainability of new EVs.
The new battery is said to be capable of achieving an energy density of up to 450 Wh/kg, and 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 is expected to be rolled out in vehicles before the end of the decade, with its high energy density helping extend EV range up by to 80% while also reducing vehicle weight and increasing vehicle efficiency. Its sulfide-based all-solid-state electrolyte system works to addresses 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). This design could also reduce the cooling system requirements within the battery pack, helping lower EV costs overall.
At the core of Solistice’s focus on sustainability is its dry coating process that eliminates both the need for hazardous solvents and the more energy-intensive steps carried out in traditional cathode production. This focus extends through to its bypassing of the formation process, which itself represents the most energy-intensive stage of lithium-ion battery manufacturing. Together, these practices enable Solstice to 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 company’s delivery of solid-state battery cell b-samples utilizing FEST to the OEM. 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.