Solid State Batteries To Revolutionize EV Industry
In 2024, worldwide electric car sales reached 17mn units, growing by over 25% y/y, data from the International Energy Agency (IEA) showed. The electric car fleet stood at almost 58mn at the end of 2024, or about 4% of the total passenger car fleet and more than three times the total electric car fleet in 2021.
As electric vehicle (EV) technologies are advancing rapidly, there is one emerging trend that is gaining momentum and has the potential to revolutionise energy storage - solid-state battery (SSB) technology.
The main difference between traditional lithium-ion batteries and SSBs is that SSBs use a solid electrolyte, which provides both improved safety and higher energy density.
SSBs could allow EVs to achieve up to 600 miles per charge, double the 250-300 miles range that is typical of lithium-ion batteries. The SSB’s solid electrolyte is non-flammable, which means less fire risks and no need for complex cooling systems. SSBs are also capable of providing a steady performance in extreme temperatures, which makes them suitable for use in a variety of climatic conditions. According to some SSB developers, these batteries could charge from 10% to 80% in just 9-15 minutes and have about 8,000-10,000 charge cycles, which is way ahead of traditional batteries in terms of durability. The higher energy density of SSBs will make vehicles lighter and the use of fewer materials may reduce their carbon footprint by up to 39%.
Over the past decade, companies have been pouring billions of dollars into SSB research and development, and the commercial application of these batteries now looks closer than ever before.
As automakers vie for dominance in the EV market, the race to commercialize SSBs has become intense, with Asian firms leading the charge. The Asia Pacific solid state battery market accounted for the bulk of the global market and the lion’s share of revenues with 54% in 2024, according to Grand View Research data. The industry is driven by robust demand for EVs and portable electronics in the region and buoyed by strong government support.
The world’s largest lithium-ion battery producer, Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL), is making significant strides in SSB development.
According to Chinese media reports, CATL has developed a solid-state cell with a charging capacity of 20 Ah. The group is also said to have started trial production of sample cells with solid electrolyte. CATL aims to start small series production of solid-state batteries by 2027, a senior CATL scientist said during the China International Battery Fair (CIBF) in Shanghai in April 2024, Elecrtrive reported, citing Chinese media.
Chinese EV manufacturer NIO is already using a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery, developed in partnership with WeLion. The technology enables a driving range of up to 577 miles and is compatible with existing NIO models.
BYD, on the other hand, expects to launch its first EV with all-solid-state batteries in 2027, Sun Huajun, the CTO of BYD’s battery business, said as cited by Electrek in February 2025. The first two years, to 2029, will serve as a demonstration phase with limited production. The automaker plans to begin mass production around 2030. Initially, BYD will use sulfide-based solid-state batteries mainly in higher-end vehicles.
China is likely to spend around RMB 6bn on all-solid-state battery research and development, CnEVPost reported, citing an article in China Daily.
Samsung SDI is making significant progress in solid-state battery technology. The company has its own “super-gap” technology and in 2023, it launched the world’s biggest pilot production line for SSBs. The company expects mass production to start in 2027.
LG Energy Solution is also working on solid-state battery technology and together with UC San Diego, it has developed an all-solid-state battery capable of fast charging at room temperature.
In its long-term vision Nissan Ambition 2030, Japanese carmaker Nissan announced that by FY2028 it aims to launch an in-house developed EV with all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). The firm has a pilot ASSB manufacturing line in its Yokohama Plant in Kanagawa Prefecture. Nissan believes ASSBs can be reduced to USD 75 per kWh in FY2028 and to USD 65 per kWh afterwards, thus placing EVs at the same cost level as gasoline-powered vehicles.
In collaboration with Toyota, Panasonic is advancing SSB technology. EV production is set for 2027, with industrial applications following by 2029, EV Magazine reported.
At the forefront of SSB development, Toyota plans to introduce an SSB whose single-charge range can reach up to 1,200 km. Forbes reported in May 2025. The company claims its new solid-state batteries could be offered in its next-gen EVs as early as 2027.
The global solid state battery market was estimated at USD 1.18bn in 2024 and is expected to grow at a hefty CAGR of 56.6% from 2025 to 2030, buoyed above by the surging demand for EVs, Grand View Research data shows.
Stable demand for EVs, increasing investments, government support, and the push towards more environmentally friendly technologies are expected to drive the SSB industry growth in the future. As technological challenges are being overcome, SSBs are gradually becoming a breakthrough solution for the automotive, energy storage, and electronics sectors.