Mercedes-Benz has its eyes on solid-state batteries with its partnership with Factorial for battery cells, however the automaker’s already considering one step past that.
Sooner or later, Mercedes envisions combined battery packs with several types of cells all wired in parallel reasonably than right this moment’s collection association. The enabling issue to it is a new micro-converter the automaker’s creating in-house to switch right this moment’s electrical inverter methods.
In Germany, Mercedes engineers confirmed working prototypes to Inexperienced Automobile Studies of the programmable micro-converters. The converters are in regards to the size of a stick of gum and twice the width. They seemed mild and had been encased in black plastic, however engineers had been positive to maintain us from touching the (presumably costly) prototypes.
Mercedes-Benz micro-converters
The micro-converters may be related on to any variety of cell pairs. This allows engineers to program and management particular person cell pairings independently whatever the state-of-charge. Engineers demonstrated this on a workbench, placing the combined check cells below load after which independently turning on and off sure cell pairings.
Engineers mentioned the brand new micro-converters open the likelihood to mix-and-match cell sorts, chemistries, and extra for numerous conditions. The converters may allow a pack to have LFP cells, NMC cells, and solid-state cells all collectively, they usually may name upon several types of cells for various situations and conditions to work of their optimum working home windows. That would open a brand new door for efficiency autos for the automaker’s AMG division.
The brand new strategy may translate to quicker charging charges, longer driving vary, and extra flexibility in pack design, in response to Mercedes’ engineers.
Mercedes-Benz paid for journey and lodging for Inexperienced Automobile Studies to convey you this info.
