Mercedes-Benz EQG – the zero-emission successor to the iconic G-Class – will benefit from a breakthrough traction battery tech the company co-designed with Sila. The production start remains scheduled for 2025.
The engineering team settled on using a silicon anode instead of the conventional graphite one, which enabled it to increase the battery capacity without compromising safety in any way. The expected storage capacity increase is “up to 40 percent.”
The new technology will reduce the size and weight of the battery units while preserving their power storage characteristics. On the other hand, should the manufacturer decide to outfit the next generation of a car with batteries as big and heavy as in the previous generation, they can always do it and thus improve the capacity and range of the new car. As one final benefit, Mercedes points out even faster charging than before.
Mercedes-Benz will be the first automotive business to partner up with Sila. The battery specialist has a eco-friendly factory in Washington State, USA, which runs entirely on renewable energy sources. This will enable Mercedes to advertise its new cars as clean.
The EQG Concept hit the stage last fall (see the gallery and the video). Despite switching to a different powertrain, it kept the exterior styling, frame and reduction gear of its ICE donor. When the car reaches production, it will do so with four electric motors and a battery maxing out above 100 kWh.