BYD plans give solid-state batteries clearer timeline

: Battery materials, Metals
25/02/18

The rollout of electric vehicle (EV) solid-state batteries has been given a clearer timeline after China's largest EV producer BYD unveiled plans to launch massive production of such vehicles around 2030.

"We will start demonstration in 2027 and achieve large-scale production around 2030," Sun Huajun, chief technology officer at BYD Lithium Battery, said at the second China All-Solid-State Battery Innovation and Development Summit Forum on 16 February.

The firm has started feasibility studies into the industrialisation of solid-state batteries, covering key material technology, cell system development and production line construction, Sun added.

BYD rolled out a 60 ampere hour all-solid-state battery last year.

Its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales surged by 41pc to more than 4.27mn units in 2024, accounting for 27pc of global sales. It is also a major battery manufacturer, with almost 154GWh installed last year, accounting for 17pc of global EV battery installations, industry data show.

This timeline is later than earlier predictions by some domestic automakers and research institutions, as most of them said last year that they will deploy full solid-state batteries at their own EV brands from 2025 and start mass production in 2026 or 2027.

Solid-state batteries with a longer EV driving range, smaller size and safer performance are considered the main development direction for the next generation of power batteries, but there are several challenges restricting mass production, particularly significantly higher costs.

More than 100GWh of solid-state battery capacity is being planned in China, according to industry estimates, but it remains uncertain when they will be turned into real production, and some of the capacity is for solid-liquid hybrid batteries.

"To realise the industrialisation of solid-state batteries, we still need to solve the problems with the technology, process and cost," Miao Wei, former minister at China's ministry of industry and information technology said at the same forum. "Looking at the current progress of global research and development, the technology to support massive production is yet to mature. There will be small-scale production around 2027."

Several EV and battery producers have unveiled development plans or announced production launches for solid-state batteries in the past few years, but many are semi-solid-state batteries that have lower EV driving ranges, according to market participants.

"Semi-solid-state batteries still belong to the category of liquid batteries. We should not get the two mixed up," Miao added.

But the development of such batteries is expected to boost the adoption of EVs in the longer term, because anxiety over driving ranges is one of the main reasons why many potential buyers have not opted to buy an EV, especially in China. Some full-solid-state batteries being developed can support a driving range of more than 1,000km. China last year unveiled a plan to devote 6bn yuan ($829mn) to accelerate development of such batteries.

Chinese consumers bought fewer NEVs than gasoline vehicles in January for a second straight month, while gasoline demand picked up thanks to the lunar new year holiday, when people typically drive long distances to hometowns. NEV refers to battery electric vehicles (BEVs), plug-in hybrids and fuel cell vehicles in the country.

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25/03/20

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