Fisker Inc, an e-mobility and technology company developing electric vehicles and proprietary solid-state battery technologies, has announced a strategic investment from Caterpillar’s wholly owned subsidiary, Caterpillar Venture Capital Inc.

Fisker said Caterpillar Ventures’ investment illustrates a “mutually recognised importance that electrification solutions will represent to multiple business segments in the future. While Caterpillar and Fisker serve fundamentally different industries, advancements in electrification technologies pose increasing importance and offer the potential to positively impact customer value for the right products”.

Fisker says its solid-state batteries present the next generation, post lithium-ion era, of future battery technologies. They offer bulk electrodes with high energy densities, enhanced safety, faster charge times and lower costs, according to the company.

The company’s scientific breakthroughs include the patent-pending Fisker Flexible Solid-State Battery, which, Fisker says, is set to usher in a new era in fast charging, safety, range and costs of less than $100/kWh.

Fisker is the brainchild of EV pioneer and leading automotive designer Henrik Fisker.

Caterpillar Ventures’ focus areas of investment, meanwhile, include robotics, energy, advanced materials, and digital solutions that help its customers. Earlier this year, it invested, for the second time, in MineSense Technologies, a company focused on real-time, sensor-based ore data and sorting solutions for large-scale mines.