An American EV battery startup thinks that it can help get US automakers in their struggles against China. This isn’t a plan to just catch up, however. The CEO of Factorial Energy said in a recent interview that playing copycat to try and get to the same level isn’t enough. Instead, US automakers need something new to “leapfrog” the competition. Something his company might be able to deliver.
Solid State Cells Are The Answer, Says Company Set To Launch Them
Factorial Energy has been working on solid state battery cells. Solid state solves many of the problems with existing cells, including offering higher energy density, less use of rare earth metals, faster charging, and higher safety. They’re the magic bean of EVs at the moment, promising to be able to do just about everything.
Battery companies and automakers around the world are chasing the tech, with each one looking to be first to bring it to market and jump ahead of the competition. “Instead of playing a copycat game, we need to figure out a technology that goes beyond it,” Factorial CEO Siyu Huang told Automotive News Europe. “The battery technology is an excellent opportunity for players to leapfrog existing players in the battery industry.”
Factorial has serious partners including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai. Benz is already testing the cells in prototype vehicles on the road, including an impressive 749-mile trip from Stuttgart to Malmo, Sweden, that ended with nearly 100 miles of range remaining.
Speaking of Mercedes, Factorial recently scored a major win with arguably one of the most famous automotive mustaches joining the team. Dr. Dieter Zetsche, who you may remember as the long-time CEO at Daimler, recently joined the company’s board. Zetsche has been an advisor and investor with the company since its early days, and now, he brings all his experience from Daimler to help the company move into mass production.
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