As the U.S. appears to be reversing course on zero-emission mobility, global automakers are moving in the opposite direction toward more advanced EV technologies. Leading that charge is Germany’s BMW Group, which is currently field-testing fully solid-state EV batteries in collaboration with Colorado-based startup Solid Power.
The main allure of these batteries lies in their higher energy density, which can either increase driving range or enable lighter, smaller vehicles without sacrificing performance. There are also broader benefits, including lower material costs, manufacturing flexibility, and supply chain improvements such as localized production and reduced dependence on ethically contentious materials.
At the heart of BMW’s innovation is a partnership with Solid Power, a U.S.-based battery firm that has developed a sulfide-based solid electrolyte. This component replaces the flammable liquid electrolytes used in conventional EV batteries with a thin, solid, conductive barrier, eliminating the need for a polymer separator and enhancing safety and efficiency.
“Solid Power’s sulfide-based solid electrolyte is the key ingredient that powers [its] All-Solid-State Battery Platform technology,” the company notes. They expect to scale up production enough to power 800,000 electrified vehicles per year by 2028, an ambitious goal considering the complex engineering challenges involved.
BMW has now integrated large-format, solid-state battery cells into a BMW i7 test vehicle operating in Munich. According to the company, these ASSB (All-Solid-State Battery) cells offer “longer ranges without the disadvantages about the weight of the overall storage system.” BMW is monitoring critical performance metrics during road tests, such as thermal regulation and pressure management, acknowledging that “further development steps are required” before the batteries are commercially viable.
Back in the U.S., Solid Power isn’t just depending on European partners. It plans to license its tech to BMW’s German manufacturing facility, while maintaining production and R&D in Colorado. In fact, Solid Power is currently the only U.S. firm producing sulfide-based solid electrolytes at pilot scale using scalable manufacturing processes.
Despite the company’s momentum, federal support remains uncertain. Solid Power was recently selected for a $50 million Department of Energy grant, but negotiations are ongoing and political shifts could impact final outcomes. However, Solid Power has reassured investors that this grant isn’t critical to their immediate financial stability.
Meanwhile, Ford, an early investor in Solid Power, seems to be slowing down its EV ambitions, as reported by The Wall Street Journal. But Ford’s partner, SK On, continues its research into sulfide-based solid-state batteries, suggesting that momentum in the private sector isn’t entirely reliant on public policy.
