CATL Advances Solid-State Battery Trial to 20 Ah Cells With 500 Wh/kg Target
The battery giant expects to begin small-scale production in 2027, with mass production targeted for around 2030.
CATL has advanced its solid-state battery development program to 20 Ah cells, continuing its path toward small-scale production expected to begin in 2027. The world’s largest EV battery manufacturer confirmed the progress while addressing investor inquiries on Tuesday.
What Happened
CATL stated that its sulfide-based solid electrolyte batteries have entered 20 Ah trial production as the company aims to achieve an energy density of 500 Wh/kg. According to SNE Research, CATL held a 39.9% share of the global EV battery market through the first half of 2026. The company uses a sulfide-based system that offers high ionic conductivity and deformability, though maintaining stable contact between solid components remains a technical hurdle.
CATL chairman and CEO Robin Zeng previously indicated at the Summer Davos Forum that all-solid-state batteries have reached level four on a scale of one to nine. The company emphasized that it continues to invest heavily in the technology, distinguishing it from semi-solid-state variants by requiring a solid electrolyte rather than a liquid one to conduct lithium ions.
Why It Matters
The timeline for CATL’s all-solid-state batteries aligns with other major industry players racing to commercialize the technology. Toyota aims to launch the first all-solid-state battery-powered EV in 2027 or 2028, while Samsung SDI plans to begin mass production of its SolidStack batteries in the second half of 2027. BYD, the second-largest global EV battery seller, also plans to launch a solid-state vehicle in 2027, with its battery division FinDreams targeting limited batch production of sulfide-based batteries in the same year.
Despite the hype surrounding solid-state batteries as a potential "holy grail," CATL and its competitors note that initial output will be limited. Mass production is not expected until around 2030. Meanwhile, companies continue to advance lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion chemistries, which offer lower costs and sufficient performance for many applications, such as BYD’s second-generation Blade LFP batteries which already deliver over 1,000 km of CLTC range.
The Bottom Line
CATL has moved its sulfide-based solid-state batteries into 20 Ah trial production with a target energy density of 500 Wh/kg. While the company expects small-scale production to start in 2027, widespread mass production remains a goal for 2030, mirroring the cautious timelines set by Toyota, Samsung SDI, and BYD.
