2021 Automotive Keyword (10): Solid-State Batteries

Since the beginning of 2021, solid-state batteries have been emerging as the new technology direction for many automakers and battery companies. It is understood that solid-state batteries replace the electrolyte and separator in conventional lithium-ion batteries with solid electrolytes. Compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries offer enhanced safety, higher energy density, and superior cycle performance. As a result, they are widely regarded within the industry as the ideal next-generation battery technology system.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology highlighted in "Made in China 2025" that "by 2025 and 2030, China's power battery single-cell energy density must reach 400 Wh/kg and 500 Wh/kg, respectively." Publicly available data indicates that the energy density ceiling for liquid batteries may be around 350 Wh/kg, making it difficult to meet the ultimate targets for energy density improvement. Moreover, conventional liquid lithium-ion batteries are prone to issues such as electrolyte leakage and electrode short circuits. Additionally, while using metallic lithium as the negative electrode can boost energy density, this approach has raised concerns over safety. In contrast, solid-state batteries effectively address these challenges, offering superior safety performance.

As solid-state batteries emerge as the next big trend, industry giants like Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Ford, and Toyota—traditional multinational automakers—are already ramping up their investments in this cutting-edge technology. BMW Group plans to begin testing and integrating solid-state battery prototypes as early as next year, with a target to launch a prototype vehicle by 2025 and achieve mass production by 2030. Meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz aims to start testing solid-state battery prototypes in 2022, with an eye toward bringing them to market within the next five years. Volkswagen Group has announced that it will adopt solid-state batteries as early as 2025. Ford Motor Company, on the other hand, will kick off product testing next year, moving into real-world road tests between 2025 and 2030. Toyota is committed to achieving consistent, stable production of all-solid-state batteries by 2030, while Nissan expects to introduce electric vehicles equipped with all-solid-state batteries by fiscal year 2028.
Additionally, domestic automakers and battery suppliers are also turning their attention to solid-state battery technology. For instance, NIO is set to launch a vehicle equipped with semi-solid batteries in the fourth quarter of 2022; the first batch of Dongfeng E70 models featuring Ganfeng Lithium’s semi-solid batteries is expected to be delivered before this year’s Spring Festival. Meanwhile, Ganfeng Lithium is accelerating its R&D efforts on second-generation solid-state lithium batteries. Unlike the first-generation solid-state batteries, the second-generation version will utilize a high-nickel ternary cathode paired with a metal-lithium-based anode material. Currently, this new product boasts an energy density exceeding 350 Wh/kg and a cycle life approaching 400 charge-discharge cycles.

Additionally, BAIC BJEV has also announced the completion of its second-generation solid-state cell development, along with bench testing and verification of the battery system, as well as vehicle integration validation. Meanwhile, the company’s planned third-generation solid-state battery technology is set to debut in a new model under the Jihu brand, featuring a high-safety (no risk of fire) and ultra-high energy density (cell energy density of 360Wh/kg) solid-state battery—currently undergoing the project approval process for the targeted vehicle model.
As more and more players enter the market, the commercialization and real-world application of solid-state batteries are rapidly advancing. According to Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, solid-state batteries are expected to be truly deployed in large-scale commercial applications around 2025 to 2030. Currently, the specific energy limit of lithium-ion batteries stands at approximately 300 Wh/kg. By 2025, the first-generation all-solid-state batteries—comparable in energy density to today's lithium-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes—are set to emerge. Beyond 2030, the second generation of all-solid-state batteries, featuring innovative cathode and anode materials, will arrive, boosting energy density to as high as 500 Wh/kg.

Translated from Sina Auto

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