Massachusetts-based battery startup Factorial Energy said Thursday it's building a coalition of specialized battery makers to bring the long-elusive all-solid-state battery to market. The company signed a joint development agreement with Japanese firm Mitsui Kinzoku to use its solid electrolytes in Factorial's batteries, the latest in a string of partnerships the company has struck in recent months.
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, which use a highly flammable liquid chemical to shuttle charge-carrying ions to power EVs, all-solid-state batteries swap that liquid out for a solid electrolyte. Battery scientists believe the technology can eliminate fire risk, substantially improve energy density, and deliver blistering charging speeds. But the technology has been bogged down by technical challenges for years, while conventional lithium-ion batteries keep improving on range, charging speed, and cost.
