Battery company Factorial aims to supply cells for EV testing, claims to increase range up to 50%

Solid-state battery company Factorial Energy is almost ready to supply test cells to automakers, the company said last week in a press release announcing the completion of a Series D funding round. .

Factorial says it raised $200 million in this round, led by Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis. Both automakers announced plans to invest in Factorial last year. Hyundai is also a major investor.

Massachusetts-based Factorial says it will deliver its first 40 amp hour solid-state batteries in 2021. The company is currently building a test production facility to scale up production of test cells for customer. The facility will be located in New England and begin construction in early 2022, Factorial said.

STLA Large Platform for 8 EVs in 2026 – 2021 Stellantis EV Day

Factorial claims it will achieve a 50% range improvement with its battery technology, but production of test cells is only one step on the road to full commercialization. Stellantis hopes to use some solid state cells starting around 2026 could use some “industrial property” like current lithium-ion chemistry.

Several other automakers are pursuing solid-state batteries. In November 2021, Nissan says it is targeting the use of the technology by 2028, as part of a larger plan to ramp up production of electric vehicles. Toyota has begun discussing solid-state batteries before, but recently said it will launch the solid-state technology not in an electric battery model. but in a future.

Ford and BMW are among the companies backing Colorado-based Solid Power. That company is also working towards a form factor that could be used in facilities alongside or in place of lithium-ion cells, and it demonstrated the safety of its cells last year.