The end of range anxiety? Mercedes' solid-state battery tech just drove 749 miles without a stop

• Mercedes engineers drove from Stuttgart in Germany to Malmo, Sweden
• The 749-mile journey was made on a single charge
• Endeavor proves the energy density of future solid-state battery packs

Mercedes-Benz continues to demonstrate the power of its solid-state battery technology, with its most recent road trip covering a staggering 749 miles on a single charge.

Its team of engineers loaded up the EQS test vehicle in Stuttgart, Germany and took the scenic route to Malmo in Sweden. Calculated using Electric Intelligence – the marque’s clever route-planning software – the journey factored in topography, traffic, ambient temperature, as well as energy needs for heating and cooling to maximize range.

The German brand, which has already set numerous electric vehicle distance records with its highly-optimized EQXX rolling laboratory, is keen to point out that the EQS used in its latest endeavor was only lightly modified.

Existing lithium-ion packs were swapped out for lithium-metal solid-state cells developed by US-based manufacturer Factorial Energy. The pack itself was then honed by Mercedes-AMG High Performance Powertrains, which specializes in F1 technology.

Despite the weight and size of the solid-state battery being comparable to current EQS technology, the useable energy content is apparently 25% greater, while additional energy efficiency savings were made through passive airflow cooling.

This resulted in a bladder-busting road trip that actually surpassed the previous record set by the Vision EQXX on its Stuttgart–Silverstone route by just shy of two miles. In fact, the solid-state packs still boasted 85 miles remaining when the EQS arrived at its destination.

A solid case for solid-state

Many automotive brands are deep in the research phase of solid-state battery tech, while a number of Tier 1 suppliers and specialists are pushing the tech forward.

At this year’s IAA Mobility show in Munich, Rimac showcased its developments in the area, while the VW Group shoehorned a small solid-state battery pack into a Ducati motorcycle so it could undergo rigorous testing on the race circuit.

MG is poised to be the first to release a mass-produced semi solid-state battery in the upcoming MG4 refresh, which are cheaper and slightly easier to manufacture, while IM Motors and Nio in China already have models on sale. BMW also has demonstration i7 models running all-solid state prismatic cells developed by Colorado-based battery start-up Solid Power.

Currently, the complex manufacturing processes and the high costs involved have so far prevented all solid-state battery tech from reaching critical mass, but it is only a matter of time.

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