Massachusetts-based solid-state battery technology company Factorial Energy is joining forces with South Korea’s POSCO Future M to push all-solid-state batteries—often dubbed the “holy grail” of energy storage—closer to commercial reality.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the two companies plan to explore cooperation in developing materials for all-solid-state batteries, which are powering progress in next-generation industries such as electric vehicles, robotics, energy storage systems and more.
All-solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid between the cathode and anode, offering higher safety, superior energy density, and excellent charging performance compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries.
Factorial decided to sign the MOU after testing cathode material samples for all-solid-state batteries and concluding that POSCO Future M’s materials demonstrated good rate capability.
Through this MOU, POSCO Future M aims to further strengthen its competitiveness in the all-solid-state battery materials business.
POSCO Future M already supplies cathode and anode materials to global battery heavyweights such as LG Energy Solution, SK On, Samsung SDI, and Ultium Cells. Now the company is accelerating its push into all-solid-state materials. Its R&D pipeline includes next-gen cathode and silicon anode materials, as well as ongoing work on lithium-metal anodes and sulfide-based solid electrolytes.
“Solid-state batteries are entering a new era of commercial readiness,” said Factorial CEO Siyu Huang. Factorial adds that partnering with POSCO will not only speed up material development but also enable “meaningful cost reductions at scale.”
Factorial has already earned the confidence of major automakers. In 2022, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Stellantis participated in its $200 million funding round. Last summer, Factorial delivered the first solid-state cells built on its FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) platform, and in September 2024, Factorial and Mercedes unveiled their co-developed Solstice all-solid-state battery.
The technology aims to deliver more than 600 miles (1,000 km) of driving range. Mercedes even demonstrated its potential with a long-distance run: a modified EQS equipped with a solid-state battery traveled from Stuttgart, Germany, to Malmö, Sweden—750 miles (1,205 km)—and still had 85 miles of range left at the end.
