<div id="readability-page-1">Chinese electric vehicle (EV) batteries are set to become safer and more powerful, as carmakers including SAIC Motor and Chery Automobile outline road maps for the commercialisation of solid-state technology. Solid-state batteries – which use a solid electrolyte to conduct ions between electrodes – are widely seen as a superior alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid or gel-based materials. Analysts say the technology promises higher energy density, improved safety and longer driving range. “Solid-state batteries are the answer to the future of mobility,” said Davis Zhang, a senior executive at Suzhou Hazardtex, a supplier of specialised batteries. “Chinese carmakers are poised to spearhead mass production, with domestic suppliers at the forefront of development.” Compared with liquid-based batteries, solid-state variants can store more energy, a key factor in extending vehicle range. They are also less prone to overheating or catching fire in the event of overcharging or collisions, while offering longer operational lifespans. However, cost remains a hurdle. Current EV batteries capable of delivering a range of 500km cost more than 20,000 yuan (US$2,906) to produce, while solid-state or semi-solid-state versions could cost up to three times more, according to Zhang. Major battery makers, from Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL) to smaller rival Svolt, have acknowledged that technical challenges still need to be resolved before large-scale commercialisation can take place, although they have not disclosed specific details. CATL, which accounted for a 42 per cent share of the global EV battery market in the first two months of this year, said it planned to begin mass production of solid-state batteries in 2027, with broader adoption expected by 2030. The Ningde-based company delivered 135 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries in January and February, up 4.4 per cent year on year. One GWh is enough to power around 20,000 EVs with a range of 500km.  “Leaders in next-generation battery technology are likely to emerge as winners over the next two years,” said Zhang Wenjie, who runs a car maintenance workshop in Shanghai. “Solid-state batteries could become the preferred choice for both manufacturers and consumers, as they improve efficiency while boosting confidence in the cars’ reliability.” Carmakers are already pushing ahead with early applications. Last month, Chery unveiled a solid-state battery capable of delivering a driving range of more than 1,500 km on a single charge. The Anhui-based company said its coming Exeed EX8 sport utility vehicle, due to launch in the fourth quarter, would feature a semi-solid-state battery but did not provide further details. Chery added that a battery with an energy density of 600 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) could deliver such a range, with testing expected to be completed by 2027. Current EV batteries in China typically offer energy density of about 200 Wh/kg. Chery chairman Yin Tongyue has previously said the company is betting on next-generation battery technologies, including solid-state, to drive growth in its EV business and strengthen its global expansion. Chery, China’s largest vehicle exporter, shipped 1.29 million cars overseas last year, up 33.2 per cent, while EV sales rose 55 per cent to 903,847 units, accounting for nearly a third of its total sales of more than 2.8 million. SAIC Motor, the Chinese partner of General Motors and Volkswagen, is also accelerating development. Its MG4 became the world’s first mass-produced model equipped with a semi-solid-state battery, priced from as low as 99,800 yuan in 2025. The company has invested more than 2.7 billion yuan in a battery start-up and said it is developing full solid-state batteries, with a production line under construction in Shanghai. SAIC expects wider adoption of the technology to begin as early as next year. </div>

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<p>Chinese carmakers, including SAIC Motor and Chery Automobile, are advancing solid-state battery technology for electric vehicles (EVs), promising enhanced safety, energy density, and driving range. Analysts highlight solid-state batteries as a key to future mobility, despite higher production costs. Major players like CATL plan mass production by 2027, while Chery and SAIC are already implementing early applications. Chery's upcoming Exeed EX8 SUV aims for over 1,500 km range, and SAIC's MG4 is the first mass-produced model with a semi-solid-state battery. The shift to solid-state technology is expected to reshape the EV market.</p>

Chinese carmakers bet on solid-state batteries to drive next EV phase