Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has reportedly increased its investment in solid-state battery research and development. The company is focusing on sulfide technology and has recently started test production of 20-ampere-hour prototypes.
Challenges in performance parameters
This move indicates that the battery solution has been finalized for the time being and that the production technology is now being researched. It is reported that the solid state battery R&D team at CATL has grown to a staff of over 1,000. The companyʼs current battery technology is said to achieve an energy density of 500 watt-hours per kilogram for lithium ternary batteries, which would be more than 40 percent higher than with conventional batteries. However, charging speed and cycle life reportedly do not yet meet the desired standards.
Small-scale production planned by 2027
At the 2024 China International Battery Fair in April, CATL had announced a timetable for mass production of solid-state batteries. Chief scientist Wu Kai reported that CATL plans to start small-scale production of solid-state batteries by 2027. However, mass production may still be limited by cost and other challenges.