China's solid-state battery rollout to take years, says leading expert

Solid-state battery test vehicles are expected to appear on China's roads from the end of this year through 2027, but mass production is still at least three to five years away, cautioned Ouyang Minggao, a leading Chinese new energy vehicle expert.

Ouyang, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined a three-stage roadmap for solid-state battery commercialization at a China EV100 meeting on Friday.

He said the first stage (2025–2027) will focus on graphite or low-silicon anode sulfide batteries with energy densities of 200–300 Wh/kg, prioritizing development of the full technology chain.

The second stage (2027–2030) aims for 400 Wh/kg using high-silicon anodes for next-generation passenger vehicles. By 2030–2035, lithium-anode technologies could push energy densities to 500 Wh/kg, representing a potential industry breakthrough.

China has made rapid progress in the global race. Since accelerating its solid-state battery initiatives in 2024, the country held 6,312 patents by 2025 — 44 percent of the global total — surpassing Japan's 3,331, Ouyang said.

Yet he cautioned that systemic challenges remain across materials, interfaces, electrodes, and cells, underscoring that large-scale commercialization will take time.

Ouyang suggested that initial energy densities of 300–350 Wh/kg are more realistic for early adoption, noting that higher targets increase technical difficulty and quality risks.

He also urged rational market behavior, saying that no vehicles with fully scalable solid-state battery systems are currently available, and automakers should avoid rushing products to market, while consumers need not wait for "perfect" models.

"The rollout of solid-state batteries should be steady and measured," Ouyang said. "Rushing to commercialize could create safety and quality risks. A long-term approach is essential for healthy industry growth."