BYD announces its first solid-state battery electric car by 2027, but there’s a problem.
BYD will equip its first electric vehicle with a solid-state battery in 2027. The company’s president, Stella Li, announced this a few days ago. However, the Chinese firm did not specify either the model or the launch date...
Solid-state batteries are among the technologies that automakers hope to produce on a large scale someday. 2030 is often cited as the target date... But BYD has set a much earlier deadline: according to Stella Li, president of this Shenzhen-based giant, a vehicle equipped with this technology will be available by 2027. This announcement still leaves a crucial question unanswered: will it be a car for the general public or just another demonstration model?
Commercial launch: yes or no?
In an interview with Carwow in Spain, Stella Li stated that BYD will have a “first electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery” next year. However, she did not reveal its name, specifications, or release date. Therefore, it is premature to announce the arrival of this technology in French dealerships by 2027.
Also read
BYD Dolphin G DM-i review: a rechargeable super hybrid city car, but why?
In reality, one should expect an intermediate stage between the laboratory phase and official launch. This crucial intermediate step is essential for automobile manufacturers, as it should allow the Chinese company to ensure its battery is ready for actual commercial deployment. The battery pack must particularly withstand vibrations, temperature changes, and repeated charging and discharging cycles. This is a necessary phase before considering mass production.
Large-scale production remains the real challenge
BYD’s battery subsidiary, FinDreams, is working on a solid electrolyte based on sulfides. This class of materials holds significant potential, but it also presents challenges in terms of manufacturing and operation. In particular, the contact between the cell’s components must remain stable over its lifetime of use.
BYD has mentioned conducting small-scale tests around 2027, followed by large-scale commercial production by around 2030. The first applications might involve its highest-end models, which are better positioned to bear the initial cost of this technology. So no, sorry to disappoint you, but BYD is unlikely to release an electric vehicle with a solid-state battery by next year.