Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng announced at a recent investor conference meeting (19 May) that its 1st generation solid-state battery is entering mass production.
It announced the new technology to the world in December 2021 – a hybrid solid-state and liquid lithium-ion battery. The battery’s anode is graphite, cathode is lithium sulphide and electrolyte is an oxide. The diaphragm/separator is a solid electrolyte. The company claim the 1st generation battery can reach energy density of 260Wh/Kg. The pilot production line will have an annual capacity of 4GWh.
The solid-state battery uses less cobalt and nickel and the carbon footprint should be 24% smaller than conventional lithium-ion batteries.
The batteries have passed puncture, deformation, hot-box tests and been running real-world tests in a taxi fleet.
Ganfeng expect their 2nd generation battery to be capable of reaching an energy density of 400Wh/Kg.
Ganfeng is one of the raw material producers that have now transformed into battery manufacturers. They started construction of a 5.4 billion yuan ($758.6 million) solid-state battery production base in Chong Qing in July 2022. They continue mining and in September 2022 entered a framework agreement to build a battery manufacturing base with an output of 30GWh in Yichun, Jiangxi Province.