Geely is testing solid-state batteries starting in 2027.

Geely will start testing solid-state batteries in its first vehicles beginning in 2027. The most powerful version is expected to reach up to 500 Wh/kg, enabling ranges of over 1,000 kilometers.

Geely is advancing the development of its own solid-state batteries and has now provided a more specific timeline for their deployment. According to CarNewsChina, validation under real-world conditions has already begun this year. By 2027, the technology is set to be used in vehicles from Geely Holding’s portfolio as part of a pilot program.

Among the group’s subsidiaries are Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and Smart, in addition to the core brand Geely. It has not yet been announced which brands or specific models will first adopt solid-state batteries. Nor are there any details available on how many vehicles will participate in the pilot program. The energy density target announced is particularly ambitious. Geely mentions several variants, with the most powerful battery expected to reach up to 500 Wh/kg. According to media reports, this figure refers to the battery level as a whole, not just individual cells. For comparison, the first generation of Zeekr’s mass-produced “Golden Brick” batteries has an energy density of around 128 Wh/kg at the pack level.

According to the company, the new technology is intended to enable electric vehicles to achieve ranges on par with diesel vehicles. Over 1,000 kilometers per charge is expected. However, it is not known how this range was determined or which driving cycle it refers to. No detailed information is available yet regarding capacity, charging speeds, or specific cell chemistries. Geely appears to be collaborating with the U.S. chemical company Dow on material development. Dow has developed an adhesive for solid-state cells that is supposed to remain stable in a temperature range of minus 40 to plus 120 degrees Celsius.

2027 Will Be a Critical Year for Solid-State Batteries

BYD will also start using solid-state batteries in demonstration vehicles starting in 2027. According to Chinese media reports, the automaker and battery manufacturer plans to produce cells with a dual solid electrolyte system on a small scale as well. BYD confirmed in 2025 that it had already manufactured its first solid-state cells. However, the company expects broader commercialization only toward the end of the decade.

CATL is also working on this technology with the goal of launching pilot production by 2027. However, the company has recently tempered expectations for a rapid market rollout. CATL’s CEO, Robin Zeng, stated in June that the company’s solid-state technology is currently at stage four of a nine-stage scale for technological maturity. Technical and manufacturing challenges are likely to delay its adoption in the mass market for several more years.

Thus, 2027 increasingly appears to be the year for the first pilot applications rather than the start of large-scale mass production. Geely has also explicitly referred to a pilot operation so far. The company has not specified when vehicles equipped with these new batteries could be regularly delivered to customers.