Safer, longer-range EVs in sight as China accelerates solid-state battery push

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) batteries are set to become safer and more powerful, as carmakers including SAIC Motor and Chery Automobile outline road maps for the commercialisation of solid-state technology.Solid-state batteries – which use a solid electrolyte to conduct ions between electrodes – are widely seen as a superior alternative to conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid or gel-based materials. Analysts say the technology promises higher energy density, improved safety and longer driving range.“Solid-state batteries are the answer to the future of mobility,” said Davis Zhang, a senior executive at Suzhou Hazardtex, a supplier of specialised batteries. “Chinese carmakers are poised to spearhead mass production, with domestic suppliers at the forefront of development.”