China’s Ganfeng Lithium says it has begun small-scale production of lithium-metal solid-state batteries with an energy density of 500Wh/kg, in what the company describes as the first 10Ah solid-state cell to reach that level.
The development was disclosed in minutes from an investor relations meeting released by the company this week and has since been widely reported by Chinese and international battery industry media.
Ganfeng also said that a separate 400Wh/kg solid-state cell has exceeded 1,100 charge-discharge cycles and completed technical validation, which the company says demonstrates potential for larger-scale applications.
The company is pursuing parallel development routes based on lithium-metal and silicon-carbon anodes as it attempts to commercialise next-generation high-energy-density batteries. According to the company, its silicon-based battery programme currently spans products with energy densities between 320Wh/kg and 480Wh/kg.
The reported 500Wh/kg figure is significantly higher than today’s mainstream automotive lithium-ion cells, which typically operate in the 250–300Wh/kg range at cell level. However, industry observers note that many solid-state battery developers have demonstrated high energy-density prototype cells without yet achieving large-scale commercial production, manufacturability or automotive-grade durability.
Ganfeng tight-lipped on chemistry and scale
Ganfeng did not disclose details of electrolyte chemistry, production volumes, manufacturing yields or the definition of “small-scale production”. The company also did not specify whether the batteries are fully solid-state or use hybrid semi-solid architectures.
Earlier this year, the company said it had begun production of semi-solid-state batteries with a claimed energy density of 650Wh/kg and had entered the pilot production phase for all-solid-state battery packs.
The company said potential applications for the new batteries include premium electric vehicles, robotics, consumer electronics and low-altitude aviation platforms such as eVTOL aircraft. Ganfeng’s high-energy-density batteries are already being tested in the AE200-100 electric aircraft programme linked to Geely’s Aerofugia division, according to company statements.
Ganfeng is one of the world’s largest lithium producers and has increasingly expanded downstream into battery manufacturing in recent years. The company supplies lithium materials to major automotive and battery manufacturers including Hyundai and Changan.
Photo: Ganfeng Lithium’s HQ and R&D laboratory
Credit: Ganfeng Lithium
