China reports 824 Wh/kg solid-state EV battery, targets 1,000 Wh/kg

Chinese solid-state battery developer WeLion New Energy has announced a laboratory breakthrough achieving an energy density of 824 Wh/kg in solid-state battery tests, significantly surpassing current EV battery standards. This milestone, revealed by WeLion Chairman Yu Huigen, positions the company at the forefront of the global solid-state EV battery race, with a long-term goal to exceed 1,000 Wh/kg. Such energy density could enable electric vehicles to have much longer driving ranges or lighter battery packs compared to today’s lithium iron phosphate batteries, which typically deliver 150-180 Wh/kg. Solid-state batteries, which use solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, promise enhanced safety, thermal stability, faster charging, and higher efficiency. Despite this technical progress, WeLion acknowledges substantial challenges remain before large-scale EV deployment is feasible, primarily due to high costs associated with sulfide-based solid electrolytes. As a result, the company plans to initially target niche markets where safety is critical and pricing is less sensitive, such as humano