Backgroud:

China's research team has achieved a milestone advancement in all-solid-state lithium battery technology, simultaneously enhancing energy density and safety through novel material and structural design. The homogenised cathode material (Li₁.₇₅Ti₂(Ge₀.₂₅P₀.₇₅S₃.₈Se₀.₂₃)₃) developed by the Qingdao Institute of Physics and Technology exhibits a volume change of merely 1.2% during charge-discharge cycles, boasts a cycle life exceeding 20,000 cycles, and achieves an energy density of 390 Wh/kg – representing an 86% improvement over conventional liquid lithium batteries. Through an ion-based ‘self-healing’ mechanism, this material effectively resolves solid-solid interface contact issues, maintaining battery stability under extreme bending (20,000 cycles) or high-temperature baking (120°C).

Industrial Application: The Critical Leap from Laboratory to Mass Production

 Accelerated Commercialisation

BYD plans to demonstrate solid-state battery integration in vehicles by 2027, with full commercialisation targeted for 2030. Qingtao Energy's 15GWh semi-solid-state battery production line in Chengdu has commenced operations, achieving an energy density of 400Wh/kg. Sunwoda has unveiled its ‘Xin·Bixiao’ all-solid-state battery, boasting 400Wh/kg energy density, 1,200 cycles, and a cost target of RMB 2/Wh by 2026.

Range and Space Revolution

Solid-state batteries surpassing 720Wh/kg enable 100kg battery packs to deliver over 1,000km range while reducing weight by 80% compared to conventional batteries. Vehicles equipped with this technology can achieve 2,000km range whilst freeing up interior space, driving new energy vehicle design towards lightweight and intelligent transformation.

Technical Pathways: Diverse Approaches Competing for Market Share

Solid-state battery technology has evolved into a three-way contest:

Polymer Pathway: Easy to process and low-cost, but limited ionic conductivity. Dominated by European and American enterprises.

Oxide Pathway: High stability. The Chinese Academy of Sciences achieved 20,000 bending cycles through flexible framework design, boosting energy density by 86%.

Sulphide route: Offers optimal ionic conductivity. Tsinghua University has developed fluorinated polyether electrolytes demonstrating high-voltage tolerance and successful needle penetration testing.

Industry Impact: Supply Chain Restructuring and Global Competition

Accelerated Domestic Substitution

Achieving zero import dependency across the entire chain—from material formulations to cell encapsulation. Tianjin University's lithium metal battery reaches 600Wh/kg energy density, with pilot production lines operational for applications in low-altitude economy sectors like drones.

Enhanced Safety Standards

All-solid-state batteries eliminate electrolyte combustion risks. Aviation safety incidents such as Air China Flight CA139 have catalysed industry-wide transport regulation improvements.

 Future Outlook: Bridging the Final Gap from Concept to Reality

Despite overcoming technical bottlenecks, mass production still requires resolving cost and scalability challenges. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's ‘Action Plan for Stabilising Growth in the Electronic Information Manufacturing Industry 2025-2026’ prioritises lithium batteries, with leading enterprises accelerating capacity expansion and industry concentration steadily increasing. Experts project that all-solid-state batteries will enter demonstration vehicle installation by 2027, potentially becoming the mainstream choice for new energy vehicles by 2030.

Conclusion

The breakthrough in all-solid-state lithium batteries not only eliminates range anxiety but also redefines the boundaries of energy storage. From laboratory to road, this technology is reshaping the global industrial landscape at China's pace, offering a ‘Chinese solution’ for achieving carbon neutrality goals.