The companies will test whether Factorial’s FEST solid-state platform can be validated inside SK On’s production environment and assessed for use with existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing lines.
Factorial Energy and SK On have signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to evaluate whether Factorial’s FEST solid-state battery platform can be validated and manufactured within SK On’s production environment. The collaboration is aimed at testing the technical feasibility and commercialization potential of adapting existing lithium-ion battery infrastructure to solid-state production, rather than building dedicated new factories from scratch. SK On will assess whether its current battery plants can support development and production of the technology, while Factorial seeks to use established manufacturing processes to cut the time and cost of scaling. The tie-up comes as solid-state batteries draw industry interest for potentially higher energy density and improved safety, but still face major challenges in mass production. SK On, which operates a 22 GWh plant in Commerce, Georgia, and is expanding North American capacity to about 100 GWh including a Tennessee plant and joint venture facilities, said the partnership will help evaluate production readiness. The company is targeting solid-state battery commercialization by 2029 and has also partnered with Solid Power. Factorial, which is working with Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai Motor-Kia, is targeting commercialization as early as next year.