CATL targets 2027 start for solid-state battery pilot production
A race is emerging between China's battery industry leaders CATL and BYD over which company will be the first to produce solid-state batteries on a small scale. BYD is not alone in targeting pilot production next year, as previously reported: market leader CATL also plans to begin small-scale production in 2027.
Just last week, reports about six new solid-state battery patents filed by BYD indicated that the automotive and battery manufacturer plans to begin small-scale production of solid-state cells in 2027, according to Chinese media. The cells will use the company’s proprietary cathode design with a dual electrolyte system.
CATL is now reiterating similar plans. The world’s largest manufacturer of batteries for electric vehicles has told investors that it intends to begin small-scale production of its first solid-state battery cells in 2027. The timeline itself is not new, as CATL set the target several years ago. However, the company reiterated the goal to investors just five months before the start of 2027, indicating that CATL remains on track to meet its target.
CATL is thus aligning its solid-state battery timeline with BYD’s, although neither company has specified an exact month for the start of pilot production.
Solid-state batteries are considered a promising technology for the next generation of energy storage. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries, they replace the liquid or gel electrolyte with a solid electrolyte made from ceramic, polymers or glass. The technology is expected to improve fire safety, increase energy density, enable faster charging, extend battery life and increase the range of electric vehicles.
Industry leaders BYD and CATL, alongside promising startups such as Factorial and QuantumScape, are fully committed to the technology. However, CATL CEO Robin Zeng cautioned in June that technical and manufacturing challenges mean solid-state batteries remain several years away from mass-market adoption, which he does not expect before 2030. Zeng said the technology is initially likely to be used only in premium vehicle platforms.
This makes it all the more important for CATL and BYD to move quickly towards pilot production of solid-state cells. However, CATL also stated in June that its solid-state battery technology had only reached level four on the nine-level Technology Readiness Level scale. This means the company is still focusing on laboratory validation and prototype development, while aiming to start small-scale pilot production as soon as possible. That could become a reality in 2027.