- Mercedes partners with Sila, a Californian company specializing in silicon anode batteries
- This technology increases the range, charging speed and durability of electric vehicles
- The new Mercedes EQG will be the first to benefit from this innovation, which could revolutionize the electromobility market
Increasingly popular, electric cars still suffer from some limitations, particularly in terms of range and charging time. To remedy this, manufacturers are seeking to improve battery performance, in particular by exploring the possibilities offered by silicon.
This is the case of Mercedes, which has decided to join forces with Sila, a Californian company specializing in silicon batteries, to equip its future electric vehicles. Sila has developed a technology called Titan Silicon which allows to increase the autonomy of electric vehicles by 20%, while reducing the charging time to 20 minutes to go from 10 to 80% capacity. It also offers better durability, with a loss of performance limited to 10% after 1,000 charging cycles.
The first Mercedes vehicle to incorporate this type of battery will be the new Mercedes EQGthe launch of which is scheduled for 2024. It is an electric version of the famous G-Class, the German brand’s emblematic 4×4.
Silicon batteries, the magic solution?
Inexpensive, silicon can store nine times more lithium than the graphite currently used in battery anodes. It allows a better energy density, that is to say that it can provide more energy for the same weight and the same volume.
But this technology has a major drawback: the silicon expands greatly when it absorbs the lithium, which causes cracks and damage to the structure of the battery. To avoid this problem, the researchers developed nano-composite silicon-based anodes, which are more stable and stronger.
With silicon anode batteries, the Mercedes EQG could display a range of more than 800 kilometers, which would place it at the level of the best electric cars on the market, such as the Lucid Air Grand Touring or the Tesla Model S Plaid. It could also compete with thermal vehicles.
For its part, Sila aims to integrate its silicon anode batteries into one million electric vehicles over the next five years. In addition to Mercedes-Benz, the company has also established partnerships with Porsche and Lilium, a start-up developing an electric flying taxi. Silicon could thus be the key material for accelerating the transition to greener and more efficient mobility.
