KEY POINTS
- New GAC Batteries Promise Over 1,000 km Range, Doubling Current EV Performance
- Small-batch vehicle testing will begin in 2026, with full-scale production scheduled between 2027 and 2030
- Innovative dry production process combines slurry preparation, coating, and rolling in one step, producing EV batteries above 60 Ah and overcoming key manufacturing challenges
- China fosters collaboration through the All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform, while other automakers like SAIC, BYD, and CATL plan to enter production by 2027
BEIJING: China’s GAC Group has unveiled the country’s first all-solid-state EV battery production line, promising a revolutionary driving range of over 1,000 km (621 miles) on a single charge, more than double the current standard of 500 km (310 miles).
The breakthrough promises to more than double driving range and significantly cut charging time.
Qi Hongzhong, GAC’s head of R&D, confirmed that small-batch vehicle testing will start in 2026, with full-scale production scheduled between 2027 and 2030.
The new batteries are expected to deliver over 1,000 km (621 miles) on a single charge, compared with the current 500 km (310 miles).
China’s Leading Role in Global EV Batteries
China continues to dominate the global battery market, with CATL and BYD supplying over 50% of all EV batteries worldwide through September.
To maintain this lead, Chinese automakers and tech companies are advancing next-generation battery technologies, including all-solid-state batteries.
Innovative Production Process Overcomes Key Hurdles
All-solid-state batteries require a solid electrolyte, which is costly and demands new equipment. GAC has introduced a dry process that combines slurry preparation, coating, and rolling into a single step, saving time and resources.
The current production line is producing EV batteries above 60 Ah, sufficient for vehicle use, compared with the typical 20–40 Ah previously achieved.
Collaborative Efforts to Accelerate Mass Production
China has also launched the All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform to unite major battery makers and automakers, aiming to fast-track the new technology into mass production.
Other Chinese Automakers Join the Race
SAIC Motor has completed its main production line for all-solid-state batteries, while BYD and CATL plan to begin production by 2027, with mass production expected toward the end of the decade.
