POSCO Future M, the battery materials arm of South Korea’s POSCO Group, has agreed to work with Massachusetts-based Factorial Energy on developing solid-state battery technology, the companies said Wednesday.
The non-binding memorandum of understanding, signed Nov. 25 at the Future Battery Forum in Berlin, covers potential cooperation on cathode and anode materials for solid-state cells. Such batteries replace flammable liquid electrolytes with solid alternatives, promising improved safety and higher energy density for electric vehicles.
POSCO Future M said Factorial selected its materials after testing samples from multiple suppliers, citing superior output characteristics. The Korean company produces both cathode and anode components, supplying major battery makers including LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, and SK On.
Factorial has been advancing its solid-state technology through partnerships with Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, Hyundai, and Kia. The company raised $200 million in 2022 and began road testing its battery cells with Mercedes earlier this year. Still, commercial production remains years away, with automakers targeting the end of the decade for deployment at scale.
The agreement lacks binding commercial terms, leaving the scope and financial arrangements of any future collaboration unclear. POSCO Future M is developing cathode and silicon anode materials for solid-state applications, while the broader POSCO Group continues research on lithium metal anodes and sulfide-based electrolytes.
