Solid-state battery leap: Factorial bags UN 38.3 certification

By Team IO

Factorial Energy has achieved a significant milestone by earning the UN 38.3 safety certification for its 100Ah lithium-metal solid-state battery, making it the first company to receive this certification for a Li-metal solid-state battery of this size. The UN 38.3 standard involves a series of rigorous tests, ensuring safe transportation of lithium-ion and lithium-metal batteries by air, sea, or land. Factorial’s innovative FEST® (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) solid-state battery offers up to 50% higher energy density and increased safety compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Achievement signals safer high energy density batteries

Receiving the UN 38.3 certification shortly after the CES preview of the 100+Ah cell is a significant accomplishment for Factorial Energy. According to CEO Siyu Huang, this achievement indicates that the company is on the right track to developing safer high energy density batteries. The certification demonstrates Factorial’s focus on both performance and safety. The company is now looking forward to delivering 100+Ah batteries to its automotive partners, including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai Motor Company.

Revolutionising the battery industry with FEST® technology

Factorial Energy’s proprietary FEST® solid-state battery technology is set to revolutionise the battery industry. It is compatible with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment and has been scaled in 100Ah cells. FEST® leverages a solid electrolyte material, offering the potential for safe and reliable cell performance with high-capacity cathode and anode materials. The UN 38.3 certification enables Factorial to ship its 100+Ah cells globally to customers and partners, bringing the company one step closer to achieving automotive qualification.

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European expansion and partnerships

Factorial Energy recently expanded its operations in Europe with a subsidiary in Germany in 2023. The company has also broken ground on a new manufacturing facility in Methuen, Massachusetts, in 2022. In 2021, Factorial announced collaborations with Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis after coming out of stealth mode. Such strategic partnerships with major carmakers will be crucial for the development and eventual integration of solid-state batteries into electric vehicles, with potential OEM EV integration by 2026.

Addressing the challenges of solid-state battery technology

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Despite the potential advantages of solid-state batteries, such as higher energy densities and increased safety compared to lithium-ion batteries, they face performance issues such as slow charging and discharging. A recent study from Helmholtz Zentrum Berlin (HZB) revealed that sluggish lithium-ion transport in the composite cathode is responsible for these limitations. The challenge now lies in enabling faster ion delivery within the cathode composite to improve the performance of solid-state batteries.