Mercedes’ electric G-Class will use a new battery chemistry from American firm Sila, the carmaker confirmed in a press release on Tuesday.
Founded in 2011, Sila has developed a high-silicon anode component that the company claims can increase energy concentration by 20% to 40% compared to current lithium-ion battery chemistry, at more than 800 wh / l at the cell level.
Increased power concentration means more energy can be stored in a specific location, allowing more range without increasing the size of the battery pack.
Mercedes-Benz EQG concept
Mercedes, which invested in Seala in 2019, plans to start using the company’s cells in the middle of the decade for an extended-range version of the G-Class EV. The cells will be manufactured at a factory in Washington state using 100% renewable energy, the companies claimed.
Mercedes is the first publicly announced autonomous customer for the factory, and plans to expand the use of new cells to other models after its debut in the G-Class.
Scheduled for launch in 2024, the electric G-Class was previewed by last year’s EQG concept. The idea was to have a ladder frame, like the current G-Class, housing the battery modules. Four electric motors provide একটি one — for each wheel, while a movable 2-speed gearbox manages off-road gear reduction.
Mercedes-Benz EQG concept
At the unveiling of the concept, Mercedes said it plans to test a production-purpose version at the 4,741-foot Shockal Mountain in Austria’s Graz at the end of development to prove EV’s off-road chops. The mountain has a 3.5-mile off-road course with gradients up to 60 degrees.
Meanwhile, an updated version of the current G-Class is expected to arrive soon. We’ve already seen out testing the standard version of the prototype, the AMG G63 performance version and a high-riding 4×4 Square version. The revised G-Class is expected to debut as a 2023 model later this year.