Chinese battery maker CATL is closer to manufacturing solid-state batteries and has reportedly begun sampling 20Ah cells with a view to mass production.
Chinese media outlet Late Post reported that the company is aiming for small-scale solid-state battery production by 2027. It has dedicated a team of over 1,000 people to R&D on the project.
Industry sources say charging speed and cycle life still need work, but the prototypes offer energy density of 500Wh/kg, a 40% improvement over existing lithium-ion batteries. CATL has been asked to comment.
At the World Power Battery Conference in September, CATL chair Robin Zeng (pictured) gave an update on the development of all-solid-state batteries: “CATL has been investing in this field for about 7–8 years. If we measure technological and manufacturing maturity on a scale from 1 to 9 – where 1 is a basic concept and 9 is ready for commercialisation – the industry’s current peak is about a 4.
“Despite this current industry standard, our research and commitment towards driving solid-state battery technology is second to none.”
At the Batteries Event conference and show in October, general counsel at CATL John Kwon said the company spends around $3 billion a year on R&D.
