Mercedes-Benz announced in a statement that it will work with battery materials company, Sila to incorporate its silicon anode chemistry in batteries, available for the first time in the upcoming electric Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
The high-silicon anode material will increase the energy density of batteries without compromising safety or other performance parameters. Compared to today's commercially available cells with a comparable format, Sila's technology enables a 20-40% increase in energy density reaching about 800 Wh/l at cell level. This development enables Mercedes-Benz to store more energy within the same space, thus increasing the range.
The silicon anode materials will be manufactured using 100% renewable energy in Sila's new Washington state facility, making Mercedes-Benz the factory's first publicly announced automotive customer. Both companies are targeting mid-decade for a range-extended-version of the electric G-Class to be equipped with the new battery technology option.
Mercedes-Benz invested in Sila in 2019 as part of the company's research and development of advanced batteries for the automaker's future electric vehicles. The supply agreement announced in the statement is the natural next step for the partnership.
"Sila has come a long way since we established our strategic partnership in 2019," said Markus Schäfer, member of the board of management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, chief technology officer, responsible for development and procurement. "They have been proving their ability to not only deliver scientific innovation at the highest level, but also their ability to manufacture high quality material.
"We're glad that in Sila we have a leading partner who will help us power our future generation of electric luxury vehicles with their highly innovative anode technology. Delivering such a high energy density is a true game changer and allows us to think in completely new directions when developing future electric cars. Our partnership with Sila is another essential step on our way to build the most desirable electric luxury cars."
"We're focused on delivering materials that are cost-efficient and capable of delivering on the promise of electric vehicles, working to ensure longer range energy, improved charge times, and lowering battery cost per kWh," added Gene Berdichevsky, co-founder and CEO, Sila. "To realize the potential of next-generation materials, scale up is a pivotal part of execution and we've been building towards automotive quality standards and scale since our start. With our new plant in Washington, we're ensuring we can meet the requirements of our auto partners like Mercedes-Benz as they transition to a fully electric future."
