Charged EVs | Mercedes CTO says solid-state batteries may not be necessary

Solid-state battery technology is broadly anticipated to be the following huge factor within the EV world, because it guarantees increased power density, decrease value and extra security than present Li-ion designs.

Nevertheless, Mercedes Chief Expertise Officer Markus Schäfer not too long ago voiced a contrarian view, saying that solid-state batteries “will not be mandatory,” due to developments in lithium-ion-based battery tech.

Chatting with journalists at CES 2024, Schäfer stated he doesn’t see that solid-state cells have “a significant value benefit or power benefit” as a result of “so many individuals have labored on the standard cells, making them so a lot better.”

SEE ALSO – Solid-state battery tech: What’s close to commercialization, and what’s still years away?

Schäfer sounded pessimistic that the price of EVs generally can be dropping any time quickly. “We all know the electrical drivetrain remains to be far more costly than a combustion drivetrain. That’s a truth. We do our battery analysis; we now have our labs. I don’t actually see a recreation changer approaching value manufacturing for batteries, not a big one.”

Delivering a manufacturing battery that provides the specified power density, value and security enhancements is taking longer than many within the business anticipated, Schäfer stated. In the meantime, lithium-ion battery improvement hasn’t been standing nonetheless.

“There have been some very optimistic forecasts some time in the past,” Schäfer stated. “It jogs my memory just a little of forecasting autonomous driving. We invested in some cool startups right here within the US and Korea in solid-state, and I’m watching the massive names on this…however for me, it’s a head-to-head race now.”

Schäfer conceded that solid-state batteries can have a security benefit, however famous that battery makers have been making security enhancements to Li-ion battery packs, which more and more function affect safety and different safeguards to keep away from injury that may trigger fires.

Supply: SlashGear