Why are solid-state batteries so popular now?
Recently, the popularity of solid-state batteries has continued to soar. Since August, the Solid-State Battery Concept Index has risen by 23.07%. So, what exactly is a solid-state battery, and what is its future outlook? This article by Iray Energy will help you fully understand solid-state batteries!
1. What is a solid-state battery?
From the leap of “liquid” to “solid,” solid-state batteries are a branch of lithium-ion batteries and are regarded as an important direction for the next generation of battery technology.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries mainly consist of a cathode, anode, liquid electrolyte (commonly called electrolyte solution), and separator. They rely on lithium ions shuttling between the cathode and anode to achieve charging and discharging, with the electrolyte acting as the conducting medium to facilitate ion transport.
The main difference between solid-state batteries and traditional lithium-ion batteries lies in the state of the electrolyte. Simply put, the liquid electrolyte and separator in traditional batteries are replaced by solid-state electrolytes.
These solid-state electrolytes are primarily composed of sulfides, oxides, and polymers. Among them, sulfides—thanks to their room-temperature ionic conductivity being close to that of liquid electrolytes and their good processability—have become the mainstream technical route for solid-state battery electrolytes.
2. Why are solid-state batteries highly anticipated?
The main reason is that compared with traditional liquid batteries, solid-state batteries show significant advantages in safety, energy density, lifespan, and more:
2.1 Higher Safety
Solid-state batteries use non-flammable, non-volatile solid electrolytes, fundamentally eliminating risks of leakage and fire, thus greatly improving safety.
2.2 Higher Energy Density
The energy density of solid-state batteries can reach 400–500 Wh/kg, whereas traditional liquid batteries typically top out at 200–300 Wh/kg. This means that within the same size or weight, solid-state batteries can store much more energy.
2.3 Longer Cycle Life
With a stable structure, solid-state batteries can achieve over 5,000 charge-discharge cycles, far exceeding traditional liquid batteries.
2.4 Better Temperature Adaptability
Solid-state batteries do not suffer from performance degradation caused by electrolyte freezing in extremely low temperatures (e.g., –30℃).
2.5 Faster Charging
According to the latest CATL technology, solid-state batteries can reach 80% charge in just 15 minutes, much faster than conventional liquid-based power batteries.
| Indicator | Solid-State Battery | Traditional Liquid Battery |
|---|---|---|
|
Safety |
Withstands 800℃ high temperatures without fire or explosion |
Flammable electrolyte, high thermal runaway risk |
|
Energy Density |
400–500 Wh/kg |
200–300 Wh/kg (near theoretical limit) |
|
Cycle Life |
Over 5,000 cycles |
2,000–3,000 cycles |
|
Temperature Adaptability |
Over 80% capacity retention at –30℃ |
Only 50% capacity retention at –30℃ |
|
Charging Speed |
80% charged in 15 minutes |
Mainstream fast charging: 30–40 minutes |
3. What are the key segments of the solid-state battery industry chain?
The solid-state battery industry chain can be divided into upstream, midstream, and downstream segments, presenting a complete value chain from raw material supply to battery manufacturing and end-user applications.
| Upstream Raw Material Supply | Midstream Battery Manufacturing | Downstream Application Fields |
|---|---|---|
|
|
|
4. Future development prospects of the industry
Looking ahead, with simultaneous breakthroughs in technology and commercialization, the solid-state battery industry is expected to accelerate its growth.
On one hand, many leading companies have announced promising progress:
CATL: Key scientific problems in solid-state batteries have been basically solved, with small-scale production expected in 2027.
EVE Energy: Its large-scale solid-state battery production base in Chengdu has officially launched, and the “Longquan No. 2” all-solid-state battery successfully rolled off the line.
Lead Intelligent Equipment: Successfully achieved full-process production capability for all-solid-state batteries, and has already delivered core equipment and full-line solutions to domestic and international customers.
Gotion High-Tech: Its first all-solid-state pilot production line has been put into operation, with its “Jinshi” all-solid-state batteries currently in pilot-scale production and reaching a 90% yield rate.
On the other hand, solid-state batteries are seeing increasingly diverse applications, gradually expanding from electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and energy storage into emerging fields such as low-altitude economy and humanoid robots.
Electric Vehicles: Expected to resolve range anxiety and fast-charging challenges, while enhancing overall vehicle safety.
Consumer Electronics: Can enable lighter and thinner devices such as smartphones, while improving durability and service life.
Energy Storage: Long life and high stability align with large-scale storage needs, improving efficiency and reducing costs.
Low-Altitude Economy: For eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft), which require extremely high energy densities (typically ≥400 Wh/kg), solid-state batteries are well suited.
Humanoid Robots: Capable of significantly extending operating time, while their non-flammable, non-volatile nature maximizes safety in indoor environments.
According to the Blue Book on High-Quality Development of Solid-State Batteries 2025, by 2030, global solid-state battery shipments are expected to reach 614.1 GWh, with a market size of 172 billion yuan.
In summary, solid-state batteries represent the next-generation upgrade of traditional lithium-ion batteries. Currently transitioning from laboratory research to industrialization, they are poised to become a key driving force for high-quality development in electric vehicles, energy storage, the low-altitude economy, and beyond. The market outlook is highly promising.
