Massachusetts-based solid-state battery technology company Factorial announced the shipment of its first solid-state lithium-metal battery cells for drone use to Avidrone Aerospace, a Canadian developer of long-range, dual-use unmanned aerial systems (UAS).
This milestone marks Factorial’s first shipment in the drone sector and the first flight deployment of its proprietary FEST (Factorial Electrolyte System Technology) platform.
Avidrone will integrate Factorial’s solid-state cells into its high-endurance cargo drone platform for demonstration flights focused on evaluating energy efficiency, power discharge, payload capacity, and range under real-world operating conditions, including high altitudes, variable temperatures, and sustained vibrations.
Initial modeling by Avidrone suggests that FEST technology could double the range of its aircraft for a given payload, a transformational upgrade for drone-based delivery, surveillance, and emergency response.
“This delivery is a major step forward in bringing our battery platform to the skies,” said Siyu Huang, CEO of Factorial. “Avidrone’s specialized platform is the perfect testbed to prove how our high-energy, lightweight lithium-metal technology can unlock new levels of range and performance in aerial systems. Drones are not just an emerging market – they’re a strategic priority for national defense, critical logistics, and infrastructure resilience, and we see this as the first of many aerospace applications for our solid-state batteries.”
The global UAS market is undergoing rapid expansion, projected to grow by $36.1 billion from 2024 to 2028, with military applications alone expected to reach a market value of $65 billion by 2032. UAS have become essential for intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), electronic warfare, and precision-guided missions, as well as a wide range of commercial and industrial uses.
Factorial’s cells achieve up to 50% greater energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries, unlocking longer flight times, greater payload capacity, and expanded mission range. With internally validated discharge performance tailored for high-power, lightweight applications, Factorial’s battery cells provide an ideal energy-to-weight profile for next-generation UAVs.
“In unmanned systems, weight equals range – and range defines the mission,” said Scott Gray, Founder and CEO of Avidrone Aerospace. “Factorial’s solid-state cells give us a critical edge in endurance and payload, unlocking new capabilities for defense, logistics, and beyond. We’re proud to be the first to take this groundbreaking technology airborne.”
While Factorial remains committed to powering the electric vehicle transition, the company also views the aerial sector as a strategically aligned growth market. Demand for high-performance, domestically developed batteries in drones presents an opportunity to engage early customers, accelerate manufacturing maturity, and apply critical performance feedback. These capabilities are directly transferable to Factorial’s EV roadmap. At the same time, the company’s U.S.-based platform supports defense and aerospace sectors seeking secure, American-made energy storage solutions.
