BYD exec: In-house solid-state battery to be demoed by 2027

Solid-state batteries are an active area of research, especially for EV makers who want to extend their cars’ driving ranges. However, according to BYD’s CTO for the battery business, Sun Huajun, the Chinese automaker expects to commence demonstration uses of solid-state batteries around 2027. He recently made the remark at a forum, adding that widespread availability may not happen until 2030.

Sun said progress on solid-state batteries is similar across the most prominent industry players. For example, CATL, the global leader in battery manufacturing, revealed last year that its solid-state battery will enter limited production in 2027. However, the company’s chief scientist, Wu Kai, emphasized that high-volume production would struggle to bring down costs.

Sun explained that BYD’s choice of materials was based on cost and process stability considerations. The company started working on solid-state batteries in 2016, progressing to trial production of 20 Ah to 60 Ah single cells in 2024.

While large-scale adoption would only happen at the end of the decade, Sun said affordability will not be an issue in the long term. Expanded access will bring costs on par with liquid ternary batteries.