In recent years, the solid-state battery technology has emerged as the herald of a new era in the automotive and energy industries, rapidly advancing towards commercialization. At the recent 2025 China All-Solid-State Battery Industry-Academia-Research Coordination Innovation Platform Annual Meeting and the Second China All-Solid-State Battery Innovation Development Summit Forum, experts and participants echoed a sense of optimism about the future of solid-state batteries. They recognized that after years of development, significant breakthroughs in key technologies have been achieved, and prototypes are now being tested. Solid-state batteries boasting an impressive energy density of 400 Wh/kg are expected to make their mark on a small scale in vehicle applications within the next two to three years.
Industry analysts predict that the year 2027 might well be the pivotal moment for solid-state battery commercialization. As Mei Fa, a senior analyst at the Yiwei Economic Research Institute, pointed out, we are observing a crucial phase in the solid-state battery's evolutionary timeline, with indications that small-scale production could become a reality around 2027, and a gradual scale-up in production expected by 2030.
The technological landscape of battery systems classifies them primarily based on the type of electrolyte they utilize. These include liquid electrolyte batteries, hybrid semi-solid electrolyte batteries, and the innovative all-solid-state electrolyte batteries. Currently, the majority of lithium batteries on the market are of the liquid variety. Solid-state batteries, which replace the traditional liquid electrolyte found in lithium-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte, are hailed as the most promising next-generation lithium battery technology. Conversely, semi-solid batteries serve as a transitional form between liquid and solid-state batteries.
The stock market has also reflected a burgeoning interest in solid-state battery technology, with related stocks surging by approximately 60% since late September 2024. This uptick is accompanied by a palpable enthusiasm in the research, industrialization, and application landscapes of solid-state batteries. Notably, the nascent supply chain for solid-state batteries is taking shape, with battery manufacturers, automotive companies, equipment suppliers, and material enterprises moving in concert, thus accelerating the industrialization process.
Since 2024, China has been transitioning from semi-solid to all-solid-state battery technologies, with energy density reaching above 400 Wh/kg. Analysts forecast that by 2026-2027, all-solid-state batteries will begin their transition into mass production, driven by automotive companies leading the charge in vehicle integration.
During the summit, notable figures like Ouyang Minggao, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, underscored the current importance of focusing on sulfide-based electrolytes, optimizing them with high-nickel ternary cathodes and silicon-carbon anodes. The aim is to achieve a performance target—which includes an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and cycle life exceeding 1,000 cycles—to facilitate small-scale integration into passenger vehicles by 2027, with a broader production scaling anticipated by 2030.
Prominent companies have begun outlining their timelines for solid-state battery production and integration. BYD Lithium Battery Co., for instance, has initiated a feasibility study for solid-state battery industrialization, which encompasses advancements in key material technologies, cell design, and production line establishment. They aim to implement small-scale demonstration vehicle applications around 2027, with hopes of mass production by 2030.
Meanwhile, automaker Changan is aiming for its first functional solid-state vehicle model debut in 2025, followed by vehicle verification in 2026 and gradual mass production rollout in 2027. Similarly, SAIC, GAC, and Chery plan targeted timelines ranging from 2026 for functional rollouts to ongoing operational testing.
CATL also encapsulated its objectives with plans to achieve small-scale production of solid-state batteries by 2027, while Guoxuan High-Tech has already unveiled a solid-state battery cell with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, planning for small-batch production and vehicle testing beginning in 2027. Xinwangda has reported that its first-generation solid-state battery cells achieve an energy density of 400 Wh/kg, with mass production anticipated by 2026. Zhongchao Innovation plans similar timelines for small-scale vehicle testing in 2027.
The investment bank Haitong Securities noted that solid-state batteries represent a competitive high ground in the lithium battery market, with countries worldwide hastening their solid-state battery strategies. This technology's evolution will likely reshape the global battery framework. When analyzing industry dynamics, leading firms benefit from a triad of technical capabilities, financial backing, and robust supplier relationships; however, there remain abundant opportunities for second and third-tier enterprises to carve out spaces in this new frontier.
Nevertheless, the path toward commercialization is fraught with challenges. The shift from liquid to solid-state batteries is an inevitable trend driven by the dual demands for enhanced battery safety and increased energy density, thus presenting a vast market potential.
Yet, solid-state battery manufacturing has yet to establish a complete industrial chain, grappling with challenges related to materials systems, interface interactions, cost containment, and safety. Hence, achieving widespread adoption of solid-state batteries is still a daunting task. Zeng Yuqun, chairman of CATL, illustrated this point by assessing the maturity of solid-state battery technology on a scale from 1 to 9; currently, the industry's peak maturity sits at around a level 4.
The challenges facing solid-state battery technology are multi-faceted. Materials science plays a crucial role, particularly in identifying the right solid electrolytes. An ideal solid electrolyte must demonstrate high ionic conductivity, excellent chemical stability, and sufficient mechanical strength. Additionally, interface issues present a significant hurdle; poor contact between electrodes and electrolytes can exacerbate internal resistance and impede overall battery performance. Production complexity and high costs further complicate the pathway to large-scale commercial viability.
Industry experts like Sun Huajun emphasize that while the global momentum surrounding solid-state battery development is compelling, innovation in materials, interface optimization, enhanced safety measures, and effective cost control are paramount. Collaborative efforts between academia and industry are crucial for technological advancement. He noted that improving product capabilities while managing costs is central to the industrialization of solid-state batteries. Looking towards the future, the issue of cost need not be insurmountable; currently high prices largely stem from a lack of economies of scale, but projections indicate potential parity between solid and liquid battery costs as production ramps up.
Challenges like interface engineering, ionic transport dynamics, and synchronization of specialized equipment with production costs remain formidable barriers to solid-state battery industrialization. The industry is actively implementing solutions involving material modifications and hybrid technologies to tackle these key issues.
Moreover, in an age characterized by rapid AI advancements, the implementation of AI could act as a catalyst for propelling solid-state battery industrialization. Mei Fa pointed out that leveraging AI has the potential to dramatically enhance research and development efficiency, thus accelerating the path toward solid-state battery commercialization.