Geely to trial solid-state batteries from 2027
Geely has announced plans to test solid-state batteries in its first vehicles starting in 2027. The most powerful variant is expected to achieve up to 500 Wh/kg, enabling ranges of over 1,000 km.
Geely is advancing the development of its own solid-state batteries and has now provided a clear timeline for their deployment. As reported by CarNewsChina, real-world validation has been underway since this year. By 2027, the technology is set to be introduced in a pilot programme using vehicles from across the Geely Holding brand portfolio.
The group’s subsidiaries include the core Geely brand, as well as Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, and Smart. However, it has not yet been disclosed which brands or specific models will be the first to feature the solid-state batteries. Additionally, there is no information on how many vehicles will participate in the pilot programme. The announced energy density is particularly ambitious. Geely has outlined several variants, with the most advanced battery expected to achieve up to 500 Wh/kg. According to media reports, this figure refers to the battery pack level, not just individual cells. For comparison, the first generation of Zeekr’s mass-produced ‘Golden Brick’ battery achieves around 128 Wh/kg at pack level.
With the new technology, Geely claims that EVs could achieve ranges comparable to those of diesel-powered cars. The target is over 1,000 km per charge. However, it remains unclear how this range was determined and which driving cycle it refers to. Details on capacity, charging performance, or specific cell chemistries have also not been disclosed. In materials development, Geely is collaborating with US chemical corporation Dow, which has developed an adhesive for solid-state cells that remains stable across a temperature range of minus 40 to plus 120 degrees Celsius.
2027 set to be a key year for solid-state batteries
BYD also plans to deploy solid-state batteries in demonstration vehicles from 2027. According to reports from Chinese media, the automaker and battery manufacturer is also planning small-scale production of cells with a dual solid-electrolyte system. BYD confirmed as early as 2025 that it had produced its first solid-state cells. However, broader commercialisation is not expected until the end of the decade.
CATL is also developing the technology with the aim of launching pilot production by 2027. However, the company has recently tempered expectations for a rapid market rollout. CATL CEO Robin Zeng stated in June that the company’s solid-state technology is currently at level four of a nine-level technological readiness scale. Technical and manufacturing challenges are likely to delay mass-market adoption for several more years.
Thus, 2027 is shaping up to be a year for initial pilot applications rather than the start of large-scale series production. Geely, too, has explicitly referred to a pilot operation at this stage. The company has not indicated when vehicles equipped with the new batteries might be delivered to customers on a regular basis.