Builds on better batteries: Daimler boss Ola Källenius at the presentation of an electric concept car a good two years ago
Photo:
AP
The upheavals in the auto industry are leading to collaborations that would have been unthinkable in the past: The car manufacturers Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis want to work with the US company Factorial Energy to develop solid-state battery technology for future electric cars.
Stellantis mainly includes volume brands such as Peugeot, Opel and Fiat.
Mercedes-Benz announced that Mercedes-Benz will participate in the capital of Factorial with a "high double-digit million amount in US dollars."
With solid-state batteries, the charge is no longer transported through a liquid carrier material.
The cells can thus become lighter, which increases the range of the vehicles.
In addition, higher energy density and faster charging are conceivable.
In the summer, Mercedes-Benz signaled more ambition to build up its own e-fleet.
The business is basically to be geared towards electric driving.
In four years, the Swabians want to achieve 50 percent of their new sales with fully electric or plug-in cars.
They wanted to become fully electric by the end of the decade, they said - wherever “market conditions allow”.
"Faster time to market"
The Opel parent company Stellantis also announced a "strategic investment" in the US company, without giving the amount. "Our investment in Factorial and other highly respected partners increases the speed and agility we need to equip our portfolio of electric vehicles with the latest technology," said CEO Carlos Tavares. "Initiatives like these will enable faster time to market and a more cost-effective transition to solid-state battery technology."
Stellantis was created in January from the merger of the French Peugeot manufacturer PSA and Fiat Chrysler (FCA).
Both companies, Stellantis and Daimler, are trying to catch up with Tesla's lead in electrically powered vehicles.
They associate solid-state batteries with the prospect of taking on a pioneering role in technology.
The biggest shortcoming of the technology so far has been the range of the cars, which is crucially dependent on the battery technology.
Factorial Energy is based in Woburn, Massachusetts, and just a few weeks ago announced a similar cooperation with Hyundai and Kia.
mamk / dpa-afx
