Talk to any battery executive, and they’ll tell you lithium-ion batteries have a bunch of trade-offs. Automakers can chase longer range, but that drives up cost. They can make the battery charge very rapidly, but that can shorten its lifespan. Push too far in one direction and something else inevitably gives.
To make a battery that’s great at all those aspects is tough, but automakers and battery companies have signed up for the challenge regardless, thanks to solid-state batteries.
If solid-state batteries are manufactured at scale, they can offer an ideal balance of range, safety, performance and fast-charging in a similar or a smaller pack size. There’s a reason why scientists call it the “holy grail” of battery technology.
These batteries replace the liquid electrolyte, the chemical that facilitates the charge and discharge cycles, with a solid one. The solid materials theoretically perform better, but they’re difficult to manufacture in large volumes without defects.
Even if battery companies succeed, they won’t turn things around overnight. Research firm BloombergNEF projects solid-state batteries to account for just 10% of global EV and battery storage demand by 2035. The exact path to scalability and commercialization still looks murky, and the initial rollout could be concentrated in premium EVs.
In the meantime, semi-solid-state batteries are gaining traction. These batteries use a gel-like electrolyte that also promises improvements over traditional lithium-ion batteries. Chinese battery companies have established a firm lead in this space, with 83% of current or planned solid-state battery manufacturing capacity all concentrated in China, BNEF said.
EVs with semi-solid-state batteries are already rolling out in China, albeit in small numbers. Customers can buy and drive them today, thanks to early adopters such as Nio and the state-backed SAIC Motors that invested in the tech early. In the West, Mercedes-Benz and BMW are testing solid-state batteries, and Stellantis is planning to begin trials next year.
Japanese and Korean automakers are also working on this tech, but they’ve been tight-lipped about their plans. In 2022, Nikkei reported that Toyota held the highest number of solid-state battery patents, followed by Panasonic and Idemitsu.
In this list, we’re covering both semi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries. Some of these EVs are already on the market in China, while others are planned to go on sale in the coming years. A few of them are demo cars, but we’re including them in the list anyway. We’re also including automakers that have not yet installed solid-state batteries in an actual EV, but have shown the intent to do so. The list covers both Chinese EVs as well as some Western models that are in the works.
Nio ET7/ET5
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Energy Density: 360 watt hours per kilogram
Supplier: Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology
Claimed Range: 652 miles (1,050 kilometers)
In late 2023, Nio’s Founder, Chairman, and CEO William Li got behind the wheel of the sleek ET7 sedan and drove more than 648 miles on a single charge. He did that in real-world conditions and, moreover, in frigid temperatures, the automaker claimed. The ET7 was equipped with a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery, which is available to rent for Nio EV owners in China for a per-day fee. It’s a great idea: Do your daily driving using the brand’s small 70-75 kWh packs and switch to solid-state via battery swapping before long road trips.
IM Motors L6
Photo by: IM Motors
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Supplier: Suzhou QingTao Power Technology
Range: 620+ miles (1,000 km)
IM Motors is the luxury arm of China’s state backed SAIC Motors. SAIC has made a significant headway into semi-solid-state batteries with multiple models on sale already in China.
The IM L6 rivals the Tesla Model 3 and the Xiaomi SU7. Its entry-level versions get lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, but it’s also available with a 133 kWh semi-solid-state pack that’s good for more than 620 miles of range on the China Light-Duty Test Cycle (CLTC). A 900-volt architecture makes adding 248 miles of range in just 12 minutes of charging possible, with a powerful enough charger. It’s priced between 230,000 and 330,000 yuan ($28,000-$45,600).
MG4
Photo by: MG
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Energy Density: 180 Wh/kg
Supplier: Suzhou QingTao Power Technology
British carmaker MG Motor is another SAIC owned brand benefitting from semi-solid-state batteries. MG made waves recently by announcing the launch of the first affordable mass market EV powered by a semi-solid-state battery later this year. The battery size and range are still unknown, but MG said the cells use only 5% liquid electrolyte. The prices look competitive, too. The MG4 is available with both LFP and semi-solid state batteries, costing between 73,800 and 105,800 yuan ($10,100-14,400).
Voyah Passion (Locally called Voyah Zhuiguang)
Voyah Passion/Zhuiguang
Photo by: Voyah
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Range: 360 miles
Voyah, the premium brand under China’s Dongfeng Motor Corporation, launched the Passion sedan in China in 2023 in both plug-in hybrid and battery-electric versions. Its 82 kWh semi-solid-state battery is installed in the entry-level version, whereas the 109 kWh lithium-ion battery is the one with significantly more range, as per local news reports. The 82 kWh pack is good for 360 miles of CLTC range, whereas the bigger pack can deliver 453 miles. It’s priced between 322,900 and 432,000 yuan ($45,000-$60,000).
The semi-solid state pack was an early generation of the battery, and the automaker is reportedly working on its third generation solid-state tech.
Dongfeng Fengshen E70 (Demo EV)
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Range: 620+ miles
Supplier: Ganfeng Lithium
China’s DongFeng Motor Corporation started testing semi-solid-state batteries way back in 2022. At that time, the automaker installed semi-solid-state batteries in 50 prototype E70 electric sedans. The pack was developed in collaboration with battery company Ganfeng, and also supports swapping, local media said at the time.
In August, the automaker said the commercial production of the semi-solid-state battery would begin in 2026. And it would deliver a range of over 620 miles.
Dodge Charger Daytona EV (Demo EV)
Photo by: Dodge
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Energy Density: 375 Wh/kg
Supplier: Factorial Energy
Stellantis and Massachusetts-based battery startup Factorial have validated a semi-solid-state battery cell with a claimed energy density of 375 watt hours per kilogram, which is more than the typical 200-300 Wh/kg energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries. The automaker claims the cells can charge from 15-90% in 18 minutes at room temperature. It has a discharge rate of up to 4C, meaning it can fully discharge four times in an hour. The battery will be tested on a demo fleet of Charger Daytona EVs next year, Stellantis has said.
Mercedes-Benz EQS (Demo EV)
Photo by: Mercedes-Benz
Battery type: Semi-solid state
Supplier: Factorial Energy
Range: 620 miles (WLTP)
Factorial is also supplying semi-solid-state batteries to Mercedes-Benz. Earlier this year, the automaker showcased a prototype EQS equipped with Factorial’s semi-solid-state battery, claiming it could deliver 25% more range without increasing the size or the weight of the pack. The current EQS has a battery capacity of roughly 118 kWh. Factorial expects mass production to begin by the end of the decade.
BMW i7 (Demo EV)
Photo by: BMW
Battery type: All-solid state
Energy Density: 390 Wh/kg
Supplier: Solid Power
BMW started testing a prototype i7 powered by all-solid-state cells in Munich this summer. It’s using prismatic cells developed by Colorado-based battery start-up Solid Power. The automaker didn’t share the size of the pack, but said it would begin making the cells on a pilot production line in Germany by licensing Solid Power’s technology. Crucial information such as estimated range is missing, but it’s probably too early for that.
Automakers With Plans To Launch Solid-State Batteries
Toyota
2019 Toyota LQ concept
Toyota put a solid-state battery in the futuristic-looking LQ prototype way back in 2021, way before the technology started making weekly news headlines. It expects its first solid-state battery to enter mass production in the 2027-2028 period.
The automaker claims that its solid-state battery will deliver more than 620 miles of range. And it could charge from 10-80% in less than 10 minutes. However, we’re likely to see a solid-state battery in a Toyota hybrid before an EV. Gill Pratt, Toyota’s chief scientist and head of the Toyota Research Institute, confirmed that in 2022.
That makes perfect sense. Toyota hybrids are as popular as ever, and if the RAV4 or Prius can double their electric-only driving range, it’s a win for the brand and also for the climate.
Honda
Photo by: InsideEVs
Honda is working independently to develop an all-solid-state battery, which it intends to install in production vehicles sometime in the second half of this decade. The automaker said last year that its solid-state cells could potentially be 50% smaller, 35% lighter and 25% cheaper than current lithium-ion batteries.
It expects a driving range exceeding 620 miles, which could increase to over 700 miles over time. It’s currently testing the battery on a pilot production line in Japan, ironing out issues related to mass production.
Volkswagen
QuantumScape Battery Prototype
Photo by: QuantumScape
The Volkswagen Group is working closely with California-based battery startup QuantumScape to develop all-solid-state batteries. Its battery subsidiary PowerCo has invested upwards of $260 million into QuantumScape, with a recent funding round going towards a pilot production line for the cells.
QuantumScape has said that today’s EVs with 350 miles of range could achieve between 400 and 500 miles of range using its anode-free lithium metal batteries. However, that number could vary substantially depending on the pack size and the application.
Nissan
Photo by: Nissan
Nissan is not in good shape, with its profits tanking and sales falling off a cliff. But it’s not giving up in the race to develop next-generation battery cells. Like Toyota and Honda, Nissan is also working on solid-state batteries in-house. Executives from the company even told InsideEVs in April that they’re planning commercialization by the end of fiscal year 2028.
The automaker’s all-solid-state cells will use a sulphur-based electrolyte and maybe even a sulphur-manganese cathode, which could allow it to eliminate cobalt entirely. Cobalt—a byproduct of copper—requires dirty and expensive mining and is linked to labor violations in Congo.
BYD
Photo by: BYD
BYD said this year that it was working on solid-state batteries, but denied rumors of the popular Seal sedan benefitting from the tech. The automaker said that it expects to begin demonstrations starting in 2027, with mass production expected after 2030, but stopped short of sharing which EV exactly it will use for testing.
Hyundai-Kia
Hyundai is probably among the most cautious when it comes to solid-state batteries. While the automaker still appears to be working on the tech behind-the-scenes, senior Hyundai officials have said that they won’t be able to commercialize the cells before 2030. The Japanese automakers by comparison seem to have more aggressive timelines for bringing these batteries to market.
It’s worth noting that today’s dominant chemistries such as nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) are steadily improving. Gains in performance, coupled with established supply chains and the falling cost of lithium, could delay the need for solid-state cells or make their business case harder to justify.
Still, we’re keeping a close eye on the battery market and will update this list as new developments arise. If you know of a model or brand working on solid-state batteries that we’ve missed in this list, let us know in the comments.
Have a tip? Contact the author: suvrat.kothari@insideevs.com
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