The next generation of electric cars could benefit from solid-state batteries at Daimler.
(Photo: dpa)
Munich Greater range, shorter charging times, greater efficiency: solid-state batteries are intended to take electric cars to a new level. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, this technology uses a solid material instead of a liquid electrolyte. The problem: Solid-state batteries are still hardly suitable for everyday use and are far too expensive.
Nevertheless, the car manufacturer Daimler has high hopes for the technology and announced on Thursday that it would intensify its development cooperation with the Taiwanese specialist company Prologium. Specifically, the Mercedes manufacturer says it is investing a high double-digit million amount in the company and in return will receive a seat on the board of directors.
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Together, the companies want to develop battery cells for the next generation of electric vehicles for the brand with the star. According to this, the first solid-state battery from the alliance could be used in Mercedes test vehicles in the coming years. By the end of the decade, the technology should then move into at least selected Swabian models.
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“Solid technology has the potential to significantly reduce battery size and weight. By working with partners such as Prologium, Mercedes-Benz is accelerating the development of innovative battery technologies for the automotive sector – for the benefit of our customers,” explained Markus Schäfer, Chief Technology Officer at Daimler responsible for development and purchasing.
Prologium Technology is recognized as one of the leading providers of solid solutions. The company was founded in 2006 and claims to be the first battery company in the world to mass-produce solid-state lithium-ceramic batteries. The company holds more than 480 patents and has already produced around 8,000 cell samples for testing the technology for vehicle manufacturers. Prologium plans to build a gigawatt factory in Taipei by the end of the year.
At the end of November last year, Daimler entered into a similar alliance with a company specializing in solid-state batteries. At that time, the Stuttgart-based company had also invested in Factorial Energy with a high double-digit million amount. Based in the US state of Massachusetts, the company develops solid-state batteries that promise a range of up to 50 percent more per charge than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The background to the partnerships with Prologium and Factorial is Mercedes-Benz’s new “Electric only” strategy. By the end of the decade, the Dax group wants to increase the proportion of purely electric vehicles in its fleet from four to as much as possible one hundred percent. The other two German car manufacturers also believe in the long-term potential of solid-state batteries. Among other things, Volkswagen is involved in Quantumscape and BMW in Solid Power.
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