China's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD, is set to release an electric vehicle equipped with solid-state batteries next year.
Li Ke, BYD's vice president, recently stated in a media interview that the company plans to launch models utilizing solid-state battery technology by 2027, as reported by the China Business Journal on September 15.
BYD's solid-state batteries have already passed automotive standard verification. Chinese media report that the sulfide-based solid-state battery being developed by BYD has a cell energy density of 400Wh/kg and is expected to enter small-scale production in 2027. This represents a significant increase in energy density compared to BYD's current Blade battery.
It is reported that a prototype vehicle equipped with BYD's solid-state battery has a driving range of 1,218 kilometers under the China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle (CLTC). The high energy density of solid-state batteries could address the driving range issues that have been a major drawback for existing electric vehicles.
The biggest challenge in commercializing solid-state batteries is mass production. Achieving high energy density in laboratory or prototype stages is vastly different from producing tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of batteries with consistent quality. Therefore, BYD is expected to first validate the safety, durability, and production yield of the batteries through small-scale production and vehicle integration before scaling up production.
Industry insiders in China suggest that after the initial deployment of BYD's solid-state batteries in a limited number of vehicles in 2027, the company may gradually expand their application, with a potential for full-scale mass production around 2030. It is anticipated that BYD's premium brand, Yangwang, will be the first to feature solid-state batteries.
In the interview, Li emphasized, "As BYD's ultra-fast charging technology, 'Flash Charging,' spreads in China, there is no future for internal combustion engine vehicles."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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