Mercedes-Benz gets first dibs on ProLogium’s Gen4 solid-state EV battery cells

Mercedes-Benz has secured first access to a new generation of solid-state batteries from its partner ProLogium, a Taiwan-based battery maker. The two companies have worked together since 2016, and this deal gives Mercedes priority testing rights to ProLogium's newest Gen4 cells, which use a solid, non-flammable material inside the battery instead of the liquid electrolyte found in today's electric vehicle batteries. Solid-state batteries are widely seen as the next big step for EVs because they can store more energy, charge faster, and are safer than current designs.

ProLogium says its Gen4 cells can reach an energy density of up to 400 Wh/kg (a measure of how much energy a battery packs into its weight) and can charge from 5% to 80% in about 6.4 minutes. An earlier version of the technology, already in mass production at ProLogium's Taiwan factory, was independently tested at 381 Wh/kg. The company is also building a much larger factory in Dunkirk, France, expected to reach significant production capacity by 2030.

For homeowners, this doesn't affect anything at home directly, but it's a sign of where EV technology is headed. Mercedes expects to put its first solid-state-battery-powered car into production by 2030, meaning EVs with longer range and much faster charging could eventually change how people think about charging at home versus on the road. Other automakers, including BYD, are aiming to launch solid-state EVs even sooner, as early as 2027.