China's SEVCPOWER Launches ¥3 Billion Solid-State Battery Project in Sichuan

A significant step in China's pursuit of next-generation battery technology was marked on 10 November with the operational launch of the Phase I solid-state battery project by Sichuan SEVCPOWER Technology Co., Ltd. in Yibin, Sichuan Province.

The facility, representing a total investment of 3 billion yuan, houses a 4GWh high-safety battery production line. Its initial 0.5GWh phase is dedicated to manufacturing high-safety, high-performance solid-state batteries, which the company states possess technical advantages including an energy density exceeding 300Wh/kg, 6C high-rate charging and discharging capability, the ability to start at ultra-low temperatures of -40°C, and multi-level thermal barrier protection.

The project is underpinned by research from the Ouyang Minggao Academy of Sciences Workstation, a technological incubation platform jointly established in October 2020 by a team led by Academician Ouyang Minggao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a Tsinghua University Professor, and the Yibin Municipal Government. This team, adopting a sulphide electrolyte technology pathway, has reported achieving a cathode capacity of 235 mAh/g and a silicon anode capacity of 2400 mAh/g, and has preliminarily established the assembly process for sulphide all-solid-state batteries. In a further development from October 2024, the workstation announced a partnership with Naconor to jointly develop solid-state battery production equipment within five years.

SEVCPOWER, which specialises in the research, production, and sales of solid-state lithium-ion batteries and solid-state electrolyte materials, has outlined ambitious plans for key materials. These include projects for sulphide solid-state electrolytes (100 tonnes/year, scheduled for production by the end of 2025), critical solid-state battery materials (100 tonnes/year, planned for production by 2026), and all-solid-state battery binders (3,000 tonnes/year, targeted for production by 2027). The company states these initiatives are aimed at establishing an independent and controllable supply system.

This industrial activity occurs within a supportive policy framework. In February of this year, eight government departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, explicitly designated solid-state batteries as a key research priority. This has been followed by a succession of supporting policy documents from central to local authorities. The market has responded vigorously, with, according to incomplete statistics, 21 battery enterprises and 9 automakers announcing plans for the mass production of 'solid-state batteries'.

Scientific Breakthroughs Accelerate Development

The latter half of this year has seen Chinese research teams claim multiple breakthroughs in overcoming technical bottlenecks:

• Scientists at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, discovered that 'iodine ions' can act as 'interfacial agents,' migrating to fill microscopic gaps between electrodes and electrolyte to ensure tight adhesion.

• A Tsinghua University team reported modifying electrolytes with fluorinated polyether materials, preventing high-voltage breakdown. Their batteries allegedly withstood needle penetration and 120°C thermal testing at full charge without detonation.

• Researchers at the Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, leveraged polymer molecule design to enhance lithium ion capture capacity, reportedly boosting energy density by 86%. Batteries using this material can withstand 20,000 repeated bending cycles.

These claimed advancements in key technologies have rapidly fuelled considerable interest within capital markets regarding solid-state batteries.

Navigating Three Technical Pathways

The core of solid-state batteries lies in replacing liquid electrolytes with solid alternatives, with the choice of electrolyte technology directly influencing industrialisation. Three main categories exist, each with trade-offs:

• Sulphide route: Offers ionic conductivity approaching liquid electrolytes but is costly and can produce toxic hydrogen sulphide.

• Oxide/Polymer approach: Provides superior safety but lower ionic conductivity at room temperature.

• Semi-solid transitional solutions: Use wetting agents to improve interface contact, serving as an industrial 'stepping stone'.

Innovation extends beyond electrolytes to electrodes and manufacturing equipment, which is evolving on a dual trajectory: fine-tuning for semi-solid-state and restructuring for all-solid-state batteries.

2026: A Pivotal Year for Road Testing

Industry observers anticipate that 2026 will mark the commencement of intensive on-vehicle road testing for all-solid-state batteries. The focus will be on overcoming core challenges related to material interfaces, specialised manufacturing equipment, and vehicle integration.

While mass production remains some way off, this testing phase is seen as critical for validating the supply chain. Several automakers and battery firms have announced development targets aligning with this timeline, including Sunwoda's plan for a 0.2GWh pilot line, Farasis Energy's scheduled small-batch deliveries to Mercedes-Benz by late 2025, and targets for vehicle testing and small-scale production set by leading firms like BYD and CATL between 2026 and 2027.

By 2026, the sector is expected to witness dual breakthroughs: the mass adoption of semi-solid-state batteries and the vehicle integration of fully solid-state variants, potentially formally opening a vast new market.