Chongqing—Solid-state batteries are on the brink of a major breakthrough. On October 7, the Institute of Metal Research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences announced a new polymer electrolyte that increases ion transmission efficiency by 86% and achieves an energy density of 350 watt-hours per kilogram.
The innovation tackles key hurdles for solid-state lithium batteries, including weak internal contact, high resistance, and sluggish lithium-ion movement.
Talent New Energy, a solid-state battery company in Chongqing, operates its production line to manufacture battery products. (Photo/Talent New Energy)
Solid-state batteries are a next-generation energy storage device that replaces traditional liquid electrolyte and separator combinations with solid electrolytes. They effectively solve key challenges facing new energy vehicles (NEVs), including short driving ranges, long charging times, safety concerns, and limited battery life. This technology is crucial to the development of the NEV industry.
Major global players are accelerating their efforts in solid-state batteries, moving toward large-scale commercialization. For instance, SK On, a core company under South Korea's SK Group specializing in power batteries, completed its solid-state battery pilot plant in September and advanced its commercialization timeline to 2029.
At the end of September, QuantumScape, a solid-state battery research company in the U.S., announced a partnership with materials giant Corning to focus on large-scale production of ceramic separators. Their prototype battery has reached an energy density of 844Wh/L. Another U.S. company, Solid Power, has successfully verified the performance of sulfide-based solid-state batteries in the BMW i7 test vehicle.
The industry widely believes solid-state batteries will see limited application in high-end markets within the next 3-5 years, with large-scale penetration expected in 5-7 years.
As a major NEV production base, Chongqing faces both opportunities and challenges from the rise of solid-state battery technology. Chongqing relies on external suppliers like CATL, a global leader in battery technology, for batteries. Developing solid-state battery technology locally faces high costs and competition.
Instead of in-house development, Chongqing should focus on attracting research results from leading companies and integrating these advancements into local vehicle manufacturing, smart infrastructure, and the market for faster technology deployment.
Chongqing can leverage its existing industrial foundation to focus on three key aspects. First, the city can strengthen collaboration with major battery players like CATL and BYD to secure core supply chains and prioritize solid-state battery technology's layout and production capacity. This can ensure local automakers have stable access to cutting-edge products, reducing technology acquisition costs and avoiding supply chain limitations.
Furthermore, Chongqing can capitalize on its unique mountainous terrain and establish an intelligently connected vehicle testing environment by attracting solid-state battery research institutions and companies to conduct real-world vehicle testing and scenario validation. This would position Chongqing as a vital platform for advancing solid-state battery technology from the lab to large-scale application.
Finally, Chongqing can support local automakers in collaborating with technology firms such as Huawei to develop intelligent energy management systems and efficient charging strategies based on the specific characteristics of solid-state batteries. The city can drive the expansion of solid-state battery applications in different scenarios, such as urban logistics and low-altitude transportation, deepening the integration of technology and industrial chains.