Chinese EV maker claims it’s engineered the world’s first semi-solid-state EV battery with huge 620-mile range
Chinese researchers have tested a next-generation solid-state battery capable of pushing electric vehicles well beyond current range limits: potentially more than 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) per charge, and even further in future versions.
Scientists at Nankai University in Tianjin have developed a high-energy solid-state battery system that they say has already been installed in a real vehicle and tested for long-distance driving, representatives of the institution said in a statement. statement.
The technology contains an energy density greater than 500 watt-hours per kilogram – a 30% increase over current leading lithium-ion batteries at 300 Wh/kg – according to the release. Higher density batteries mean more power (and runtime) for less weight and in a smaller package.
Although details on the specific car the battery was tested in are scarce, subsequent statement indicates that it was a prototype developed by the China FAW Group’s battery manufacturing subsidiary, China Automotive New Energy Battery (CANEB).
Solid-state batteries improve on their traditional counterparts in several ways, including safety, scientists said. Liquid electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are flammable, while solid electrolytes are nonflammable and less prone to catastrophic failure. Solid electrolytes can also provide longer life due to reduced dendrite growth (metal tips that cause short circuits) as well as degradation from liquid chemistry.
Although still in the development phase, some solid-state battery materials may also enable faster charging, due to the higher ionic conductivity of the solid electrolyte.
The new battery relies on a lithium-rich manganese cathode and a hybrid solid-liquid electrolyte system. The hybrid design combines the benefits of solid-state architecture with a “super-wetting” composite electrolyte, intended to improve ionic conductivity and safety.
Super wetting refers to the electrolyte distributing and completely penetrating the surfaces and pores of the battery materials, thereby maximizing contact between itself and the active materials so that ions can move more efficiently. The battery also features lithium anode technology designed to reduce production costs by simplifying the manufacturing process.
The current battery has a total capacity of 142 kilowatt hours (the total energy stored in the battery) and an energy density of 288 Wh/kg at the system level rather than 500 Wh/kg in isolation — taking into account cooling systems, cabling, structural supports and safety hardware. This drop in density is normal and consistent with how electric vehicle batteries are reported industry-wide.
Developers say upcoming iterations could exceed 340 Wh/kg at the pack level and a total capacity of 200 kWh, pushing the range beyond 1,000 miles (1,600 km). Protests are expected to begin this year, according to the statement.
A range of 1,000 miles would represent a significant increase over the range of the most advanced electric vehicles currently available. According to a report from EV.comThe median range of electric vehicles manufactured in 2024 was 283 miles (455 km), with high-end models peaking at 512 miles (825 km). This top of the range belongs to Lucid look and has not yet been exceeded in 2026.
The solid-state battery findings come from a university-industry collaboration and have not yet been independently verified in peer-reviewed research. That said, the work highlights how solid-state batteries are rapidly moving from laboratory experiments to real-world testing, and could reshape the range, safety and performance of electric vehicles.
