Electric vehicle battery news from China has recently included “Rhinos,” “Golden Bells,” and the oft-heralded “Holy Grail” variant. According to a roundup published by Electrek, the descriptors are from various companies that are working on solid-state EV batteries.
While solid-state packs have yet to be mass-produced for EV use, companies are planning tests and trial runs to test the latest models — a sign that the potential conversion tech may be ready for scale use.
The packs are lighter, charge faster, offer longer ranges, and are safer than traditional batteries. Solid-state versions contain a firm medium or electrolyte instead of a flammable liquid. But Top Speed reports that they are expensive and difficult to manufacture.
Versions of the Chinese brands mentioned in Electrek’s story — Dongfeng Motors, Changan Automobile, and Chery — are set to be tested. Some promise a range of nearly 1,000 miles.
“With Gas Prices Rising, How Does a Long-Range EV Sound?” wrote Peter Johnson of Electrek.
Dongfeng has begun testing its 620-mile battery in extreme cold. Cherry’s Rhino-series of semi-solid and fully solid-state batteries have a range of up to 932-miles, and the company plans to begin certifying and producing them by next year. Changan’s all-solid Golden Bell may offer a similar range, with an in-car test set for later this year.
According to the Center for European Policy Analysis, Chinese brands already produce 75% of the lithium-ion battery cells used in the world. But companies elsewhere are also developing solid-state packs.
Boston-based Factorial is working with Mercedes-Benz to test a version on a mildly modified EQS, for example, offering a 745-mile range during testing.
Most Chinese EV technology hasn’t made it stateside because of longstanding trade policies that protect the U.S. sector from cheap imports, NPR said. Forbes reports that the lack of an established dealership network is also a setback. But news of a meeting between Ford CEO Jim Farley and President Donald Trump indicated that the door is slightly open for Chinese brands to sell in the U.S., requiring clearly defined benefits for the United States.
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Electrek’s story also includes updates from BYD, a world-leading brand in China that has developed unique battery chemistries and a flash charging system that produces 621 miles of range and a 10% to 97% charge in nine minutes.
While China is a major EV tech developer, other brands like Factorial, Tesla, Rivian and Ford are making headlines, with the latter promising “skunk works”-caliber innovation that’s on the way.
“While China aims to maintain its global market leadership with new battery chemistries, Japan, Europe, Korea and the US are also racing to bring promising new battery technologies to market,” according to Electrek.
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