Mercedes-Benz is already testing the 'holy grail' of EV battery tech with more than 600-mile range
Published on Jul 29, 2025 at 7:25 AM (UTC+4)
by Claire Reid
Last updated on Jul 28, 2025 at 3:01 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
Mercedes-Benz is testing its ‘holy grail’ of EV battery technology, which could deliver over 600 miles of range.
The solid-state battery can boost range by as much as 25 percent and could make range anxiety a thing of the past.
The automaker has said this ‘holy grail’ of EV battery tech is a ‘completely new and innovative battery system’.
And it might be here sooner than you think, with the carmaker recently confirming when it’s expected to start rolling out.
DISCOVER SBX CARS – The global premium auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Mercedes-Benz ‘holy grail’ of EV battery tech could be here sooner than you think
In recent months and years, we’ve seen huge improvements to EV technology, like the BYD ‘five-minute charger’, or the new semi-solid state batteries General Motors is putting into its MG4.
Mercedes-Benz has also been quietly working on game-changing tech, which has been dubbed the ‘holy grail’ of EV battery technology.
In February, Mercedes announced that it had put ‘the first car powered by a lithium-metal solid-state battery on the road’.
“Developing an automotive-scale solid-state battery underlines our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” Mercedes Chief Technology Officer Markus Schäfer said.
“We’re therefore excited to announce that we’ve started road testing with a prototype vehicle equipped with this advanced technology. We will gain crucial insights into possible series integration of this cutting-edge battery technology.”
The prototype was made using a modified EQS, equipped with new batteries and other parts.
It was developed by Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes AMG High-Performance Powertrains (HPP), a top Formula 1 supplier.
With testing currently underway, the marque has now revealed when it hopes to utilize the new EV battery technology in its vehicles – and it turns out it’s not too far away.
“We expect to bring the technology into series production before the end of the decade,” Schäfer told Automobilwoche.
Not only will the batteries offer an improved range, but Schäfer says they could also cost a lot less, but warned that current batteries won’t cut it and that ‘a new chemistry is needed’.
Mercedes is working alongside US-based solid-state battery specialists Factorial Energy to get the new tech off the ground.
Companies are thinking up creative solutions to boost range
While Mercedes-Benz might be working away on the ‘holy grail’ EV battery technology, it isn’t the only company hoping to boost range and quell range anxiety.
Germany’s ZF has recently announced a new solution that introduces a small gasoline engine to power a generator, which then supplies electricity to the battery or motor.
Meaning the driving experience is fully electric, even though there’s a combustion engine onboard.
Elsewhere in Germany, startup Theion is developing sulfur-crystal batteries, which could triple the range you get in lithium-ion equivalent batteries.
DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie
Claire Reid is a journalist who hails from the UK but is now living in New Zealand. She began her career after graduating with a degree in Journalism from Liverpool John Moore’s University and has more than a decade of experience, writing for both local newspapers and national news sites. Claire covers a wide variety of topics, with a special focus on cars, technology, planes, cryptocurrency, and luxury.
