Long-distance test between Stuttgart and Malmö
Mercedes demonstrates the range power of the solid-state battery
For the long-distance test, the EQS was equipped with a lithium-metal solid-state battery.
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes has proven the performance of the solid-state battery with a modified EQS: 1,205 kilometres from Stuttgart to Malmö without a charging stop. Volkswagen is also taking the next development steps.
The solid-state battery is considered a gamechanger in electromobility, as it promises ranges that far exceed the normal range of today's electric cars and even combustion engines. To impressively demonstrate the performance of the new battery technology, Mercedes-Benz recently successfully completed a long-distance test between Germany and Scandinavia.
The Germans sent a slightly modified EQS on a 1,205-kilometre demonstration drive from Stuttgart to Malmö in Sweden at the end of August. On board the test vehicle is a lithium-metal solid-state battery, which was supposed to enable the journey through three countries without a charging stop. According to Mercedes, after the 1,205 kilometres, there were still 137 kilometres of range "in the tank" of the converted EQS.
"The solid-state battery is a real gamechanger for electromobility. With the successful long-distance drive of the EQS, we show that this technology convinces not only in the laboratory but also on the road," emphasised Mercedes' head of procurement and development Markus Schäfer. It is Mercedes' declared goal to bring the solid-state battery into series production by the end of the decade, said the manager.
Mercedes wants to test solid-state battery 'in a practical way'
The test drive from Malmö to Stuttgart was part of a comprehensive validation programme for solid-state battery technology, primarily taking place at Mercedes' development campuses in Untertürkheim and Sindelfingen. The aim of the programme is to assess the overall vehicle's performance in different climate zones and route profiles and to accelerate the path to series production, according to Stuttgart.
The route led along the A7 and E20 motorways through Germany, Denmark, and up to Malmö in Sweden. For optimal route guidance, Mercedes Electric-Intelligence software was used, which takes into account factors such as topography, traffic conditions, and temperatures.
Development with Formula 1 know-how
Mercedes' Formula 1 technology centre in Brixworth, UK, also played a significant role in the development of the solid-state battery in the test EQS. The lithium-metal cells used in the vehicle come from US cell manufacturer Factorial Energy and its FEST technology.
Mercedes relies on a special design detail for its solid-state battery: pneumatic actuators compensate for the volume fluctuations typical of this technology during the charging and discharging process, thus ensuring functionality is maintained. Thanks to this approach, the usable energy content could be increased by around 25 percent - with a weight and size comparable to the standard battery of the EQS. Additionally, passive airflow cooling improves energy efficiency and reduces the overall weight of the battery.
Volkswagen pilots solid-state battery in motorcycle
Volkswagen is also advancing the development of solid-state technology and showcased a technology demonstrator at the IAA in Munich. Together with PowerCo, Ducati, and Audi, a fully electric motorcycle equipped with QuantumScape cells was presented for the first time. The technology demonstrator, based on a modified Ducati V21L, is intended to demonstrate the advantages of QuantumScape's lithium-metal anode and ceramic separator - higher energy density, shorter charging times, increased safety, and longer lifespan. In the coming months, the partners aim to further test the technology, initially in motorsport, but also with a view to integrating it into the PowerCo standard cell for series production by the end of the decade.
This article was first published at automotive.eu
