Posted on 10/24/2025 8:37:18 PM PDT by Red Badger
Chery Automobile, a Chinese automaker, recently released a prototype solid-state battery that offers double the energy density of current EV batteries.
Here’s what you’ll learn when you read this story.
* Solid-state batteries are the next quantum leap for EVs, unlocking more range, performance, and longevity.
* Chery Automobile’s prototype battery module boasts a 600 Wh/Kg energy density—double the energy density of most current EV batteries.
* Chery’s new battery is also puncture-resistant, significantly reducing the risk of fire should any of the cells be damaged.
==============================================
Energy density is the latest hot pursuit for unlocking more range and performance in electric vehicles. Measured in Watt Hours per Kilogram (Wh/Kg), energy density is effectively just the power-to-weight ratio of a battery system. Chery Automobile is one of many Chinese EV manufacturers leading the solid-state charge, no pun intended, recently unveiling its new prototype battery with an energy density of 600 Wh/Kg—double the energy density of most current EV batteries. For context, the nickel-cobalt-aluminum batteries, often found in Tesla’s Long-Range and Performance models, have a 200-260 Wh/Kg energy density.
Increased energy density equals more available range and performance.
Thankfully, solid-state batteries offer several advantages over traditional liquid-electrolyte batteries beyond just energy density. Critically, solid-state batteries bring significantly less fire risk as a solid electrolyte (the medium that enables a battery to charge and discharge) isn’t flammable. This new battery architecture also offers increased thermal stability, lowering the chances of thermal runaway—a process that ends with the battery bursting into flames. Last but not least, solid electrolytes will also allow the batteries of the future to be formed into much more complex shapes.
The Best Solid State Solution We’ve Seen?
https://twitter.com/Element25Ltd/status/1980412836506660923
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According to a number of Chinese news sites, the new battery could offer 1,300 kilometers (807.7 miles) of real-world driving range. For context, the Lucid Air Grand Touring is the current range king, able to do over 500 miles on a single charge. Regardless, solid-state batteries will also allow for faster charge times—four to six times faster in some cases. Plain and simple, solid electrolytes provide a safer and more stable environment for lithium ions to move through, enabling faster charging. The keen among you will know that solid-state battery advantages span much further than just charging, discharging, and durability.
Reports show Chery’s battery running flawlessly through a nail penetration test, also shaking off damage from a power drill without catching fire or producing any mystery smoke. However, even with a promising proof of concept, there’s still some assembly required before we’ll see these battery packs in production vehicles. Car News China reports that Chery plans to launch a pilot program in 2026, followed by a large-scale rollout in 2027. Should everything go smoothly, Chery could potentially jump major Chinese competitors like BYD and CATL to large-scale solid-state battery production. That would be tremendous, but we should clarify that this is far from a three-horse race.
What Does The Competition Look Like?
Toyota is another major player in the solid-state battery game. While smaller companies like Chery Automobile are moving fast and iterating on prototypes, Toyota is leading the way in patent activity; as it stands, the Japanese automaker has 1,700 patents related to solid-state battery tech, with over 1,500 of them active. Despite the brand’s current diversified approach to electrification, nailing solid-state batteries on the first try could make Toyota a major EV superpower—able to compete with the rock-solid competition coming from China.
Solid State Batteries Are The Future of EVs
Toyota recently announced a strategic partnership with Idemitsu Kosan, a Japanese energy company that can assist them with rolling out solid-state batteries as soon as 2027. Chery Automobile’s prototype currently boasts the highest energy density, but it remains to be seen how the brand plans to integrate the technology into a production vehicle.
How Did We Get Solid-State Batteries to Work Properly?
Engineers faced considerable challenges getting solid-state batteries to work. Like any cutting-edge technology, development is a long and expensive process, with solid-state batteries costing up to 2.8 times more than a legacy liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion pack. The extra expense comes mostly from the sulfide materials these new batteries need under the skin and low production yields.
Like many engineering challenges, the payoff from the number crunching needed to get these batteries to behave will be well worth the effort; once dialed in, the batteries of the future will offer more range and better longevity while being considerably less incendiary than their legacy lithium counterparts.
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More Chinese propaganda.
Laughable.
Truly.
Not really. The Chinese are good at this stuff and getting better fast.
How long does it take to recharge it?
“Regardless, solid-state batteries will also allow for faster charge times—four to six times faster in some cases.”
And they can use their new hi-tech stealth fight jet paint on the cars to avoid traffic radar. What will they think of next?
Ummm....no.
Greater energy density has been sought for batteries, and for every energy-storage method, since the time of the Roman Empire.
I stopped reading at, “Chinese automaker.”
Used to be a fine magazine, now the Chinese Communist Peoples Mechanics.
We are way behind. China dominated lithium production and crashed the market from 60-85k/ton to less than $10k/ton. No one can afford to process Lithium at this price. China has ~900 companies competing worldwide in a market of ~1100 battery manufacturing companies. What’s worse; China makes the specialized machines these companies all use to make batteries
Most battery energy density is 250-275W/kg. China has been selling (as in production) of 350W/kg batteries for years
They have been educated in colleges WORLDWIDE and now are innovating faster (and with Govt support) where we have been largely competing for a smaller market share
China has skewed the game. They openly steal IT designed worldwide and develop internally to compete internationally
Step 1 is getting rid of the hundreds of thousands of Chinese students in our schools and universities that WE ALL KNOW are required to obtain intelligence to send back to China
In order to have faster charging times you have to have a robust electrical system. I doubt that the grid has that kind of capacity.
BIGGER_RUBBER_BAND_PING!
I would prefer a quick charging battery and lots of charging stations, than a longer range battery that takes an hour to charge.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcukTqc1cJJ4K3c4uzxTzjA
These guys lived in China, married Chinese women.
They know the CCP bullshit propagangda.
Invest a few hours and listen and see what is true.
“In order to have faster charging times you have to have a robust electrical system. I doubt that the grid has that kind of capacity.”
China is building power plants at breakneck speed - nuclear, coal, gas, solar, etc. They ain’t stupid like us.
Though we do beat them when it comes to LGBTQRSTUV and DEI.
You got me sold if it can hold that charge for two weeks, as the car just sits, in the winter.
What China is doing is what it will take. I would be worried about those charging cables causing electrocutions.
The question still remains: WHAT IS THE TOTAL ECONOMIC/ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF AN ELECTRIC VEHICLE?
VS, of course, like costs for an internal combustion engined vehicle.
I have never seen an answer to that question!
I am of a mind that gas or diesel hybrid is the REAL wave of the future — e.g. with respect to a full economic/environmental cost/benefit analysis.
I have driven a Toyota Camry hybrid on two occasions for a total of roughly 1400 miles, and averaged 56 mpg!
Delightful cars to drive!
Spooky at first, because there is no noise or vibration when the little 4 cylinder gas engine is not running.
Perhaps they can invent a way to feed all their starving citizens.
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