The first EV battery Gigafactory dedicated to mass solid-state battery production has now opened in Taiwan by the Mercedes-Benz partner ProLogium. The company also chose Europe instead of the US for a larger, $6 billion solid-state battery factory, but this one will be opened in 2027, while the Taoke Gigafactory will serve as a blueprint for its construction.
ProLogium will start shipping solid-state batteries with 75kWh average capacity that will be enough for 26,000 electric cars to clients when its Taiwan plant arrives at its planned 2GWh annual output, hence the Gigafactory naming.
During the inauguration ceremony, where Mercedes-Benz and French officials responsible for the $6 billion Dunkirk factory were also present, ProLogium demonstrated its unique 106Ah solid-state lithium ceramic cells. "We have overcome the bottlenecks in traditional batteries and this breakthrough combines performance, cost efficiency, and resource circulation, manifesting a new universe for the battery industry," announced ProLogium's CEO when presenting the company's proprietary solid-state battery manufacturing method.
Samsung also had a mass solid-state battery production breakthrough recently, while Toyota is expected to release its first EVs with solid-state battery in 2027, but ProLogium seems ready to start shipping solid ceramic electrolyte packs to clients immediately.
"The 26,000 electric vehicle capacity calculation is based on 2 GWh divided by 75 kWh per vehicle," tips ProLogium, and if that seems like a modest number, let's not forget that Toyota also expects to make only a few thousand EVs with its solid-state battery at launch, likely under the Lexus brand.
It remains to be heard which automaker will get the first solid-state battery packs by ProLogium but its long-standing investor Mercedes is, of course, a prime candidate.
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