CAPTION: Mercedes-Benz takes stake in Taiwanese battery maker Prologium. (picture alliance / dpa)
Germany's Mercedes-Benz is to take a stake in Prologium, a Taiwanese manufacturer of solid-state batteries valued in the tens of millions of dollars with a view to developing the next generation of automotive batteries.
The first such batteries, which use solid rather than liquid electrolyte, could be installed in the upmarket German carmaker's vehicles over the years ahead, Mercedes-Benz announced from its Stuttgart headquarters on Thursday.
Precise details of the amount to be invested were not released.
The joint project aims to reduce the weight of battery cells with the goal of increasing vehicle range, a key issue for many car buyers in the transition away from combustion engines to electric power units. Faster charging is another of the project's aims.
"We have been working with Mercedes-Benz on the testing of our electric vehicle battery cells since 2016 and are excited to strengthen and expand our partnership," Prologium founder and chief executive Vincent Yang said.
"We expect to work with Mercedes-Benz to demonstrate the effective application of our safe, high-performance solid-state battery cells to meet the Mercedes-Benz top quality standards," Yang added.
For Mercedes-Benz, chief technology officer Markus Schaefer said: "We believe that range and efficiency are the new industry benchmarks for electric cars. Solid-state technology helps to cut down battery size and weight."
Last year, Mercedes-Benz outlined plans for moving to completely electric power units by the end of the decade wherever market conditions allow.
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