Whereas Chinese language producers have burst out in entrance of the pack with semi-solid-state battery achievements, different producers all over the world are working arduous to get their very own cells developed and validated. Based mostly in Massachusetts, Factorial Power has been engaged on its lithium-metal quasi-solid-state expertise for over a decade, attracting backing and collaboration from main automakers like Stellantis, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai. It is aiming for a long-range, energy-dense battery that prices the equal of lithium-ion items and rolls off the identical manufacturing traces. This month, it despatched out its first spherical of B-samples to Mercedes-Benz for additional testing and growth.
Factorial first revealed its 100-Ah solid-state cell at CES 2023 in collaboration with Stellantis, advancing on from the smaller cells it had proven beforehand. It started transport the primary 100-Ah A-samples to international automotive companions in October of final yr and has now delivered over 1,000 A-sample cells to Mercedes-Benz alone.
Now Factorial has introduced cargo of the primary 106-Ah B-sample cells to Mercedes, calling it the world’s first introduced cargo of B-sample solid-state battery cells to a world automotive OEM. The “introduced” qualifier in that individual “world first” leaves open that different B-sample cells have been shipped however not introduced, however both method, the corporate is making regular progress and transferring into the subsequent stage of testing.
Battery cells and different automotive parts undergo a multi-stage testing and growth course of from A to D samples forward of manufacturing. Following the A-sample, a tough preliminary working prototype of a full-size industrial cell, B-samples are a extra mature prototype topic to extra rigorous testing.
“The B-samples shall be built-in into modules and battery packs for intensive testing and optimization,” Factorial stated of this month’s cargo. “This significant part entails validating the module and pack designs towards Mercedes-Benz’s strict efficiency specs. Moreover, this step will affirm the robustness of Factorial’s provide chain and its manufacturing processes, making certain scalability for future car testing.”
Factorial’s cells depend on “Factorial Electrolyte System Know-how”, with a lithium-metal anode, quasi-solid electrolyte and high-capacity cathode. The corporate says reliance on light-weight lithium metallic at the moment permits an vitality density as much as 391 Wh/kg, nicely above the 300-Wh/kg ceiling of current-gen lithium-ion expertise and greater than double the 160-Wh/kg high-end capability of typical lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries. The quasi-solid electrolyte improves security compared to the liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion.
Factorial is in the end aiming for car ranges over 600 miles (966 km) per cost from a 90-kWh battery that drops round 30% in weight and measurement in comparison with a standard lithium-ion pack. The FEST batteries are additionally designed to be produced utilizing the identical tools used to supply lithium-ion batteries, with minimal adjustments.
In October 2023, Factorial opened a battery manufacturing facility within the Boston suburb of Methuen, Massachusetts. It expects the power to be the most important solid-state manufacturing plant within the US when up and working at full 200-MW capability.
In April of this yr, Factorial signed a memorandum of understanding with LG Chem towards the acceleration of solid-state battery growth.
Supply: Factorial