BYD is presenting the first electric cars with solid-state batteries next year
The Chinese car manufacturer BYD is planning to launch its first vehicle with its own solid-state battery in 2027. The technology promises significantly more range, but faces major production hurdles. The pressure on BMW, VW & Co. is growing.
BYD plans solid-state battery for 2027
The Chinese automobile manufacturer BYD continues to make progress. While the company brings its super chargers to Europe and continues to expand its charging network, the group says it wants to produce the first electric cars with an in-house solid-state battery next year. Executive Vice President Stella Li confirmed the plans on the sidelines of an event in Valencia, Spain. However, the first examples are primarily intended to serve as technology demonstrators and prove the feasibility of the new storage technology under real conditions.
BYD has been researching the technology since 2016 and is focusing on sulfide-based solid-state batteries. The system offers high ionic conductivity and targets an energy density of 400 watt hours per kilogram. This is more than twice the number of lithium iron phosphate batteries currently installed, known as blade batteries. In tests, a first prototype already achieved a range of 1,218 kilometers according to the Chinese CLTC standard.
Reduce production costs
Like Li in one Interview with carwow.es on YouTube explains, the company is not only researching cell chemistry, but also manufacturing capabilities. Production still presents engineering challenges. Sulphides are sensitive to moisture and can form toxic hydrogen sulphide on contact. The expansion of the electrodes requires complex adjustments when building the battery packs. Conventional lithium-ion batteries and solid-state systems are therefore expected to exist in parallel for another 15 to 20 years. However, the plan for the change includes clear steps. This initially includes the operation of an existing two-gigawatt-hour pilot line for process validation.
However, construction of a mass production facility is scheduled to begin at the end of 2026. To reduce production costs, BYD relies on vertical integration. The company controls the entire supply chain from raw material extraction to the finished vehicle. The first solid-state batteries will initially be used in expensive luxury models from the Yangwang brand. Only when the costs of producing the batteries have been reduced sufficiently through mass production will they be used in cheaper models. It will probably be a few years before this happens and end customers can choose from a variety of models with solid-state batteries.
Pressure on German car manufacturers
The situation on the European market illustrates how fast BYD’s development is. While German car manufacturers struggle with long development cycles, BYD is driving innovations forward quickly. The Chinese company benefits from government funding programs worth six billion yuan (around 771 million euros). For established German brands, the pace of Asian competition is increasingly becoming a strategic challenge.
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