Huawei developing solid-state battery that supposedly provides over 1,800 miles of range with five minutes charging time

Chinese technology group Huawei is causing a stir with a recent patent application. The solid-state battery described in the patent supposedly reaches an energy density of up to 500 Wh/kg and enables an electric vehicle to travel 3,000 kilometers on a single charge. At the same time, a full charge is said to take just five minutes. According to Battery Tech Network, these figures come from a patent that Huawei reportedly filed with the Chinese Patent Office in mid-2023. The timing of the publication is generating media attention, not least in light of growing global demand for more powerful EV batteries.

Energy density and charging time prioritized

The patent focuses on a novel sulfide-based solid-state electrolyte designed to significantly improve stability and conductivity through nitrogen doping. The energy density is specified at 400 to 500 Wh/kg, which significantly exceeds current lithium-ion technology (approximately 265 Wh/kg). The charging time is also ambitious: According to the patent, a full charging cycle takes five minutes, assuming that appropriate high-performance charging infrastructure is available.

Critical voices from experts

Several experts urge caution. Bob Galyen, former chief technology officer at battery manufacturer CATL and now head of Galyen Energy, stated to IEEE Spectrum that although solid-state batteries offer great potential, an industrial breakthrough is likely to be several years away:

Solid‑state is a great technology … but it’s going to be just like lithium‑ion was in terms of the length of time it will take to hit the market. And lithium‑ion took a long time to get there.

Technical challenges

In addition to the high energy density, the patent mentions a cell voltage of only around two volts. Achieving vehicle voltages of 400 to 800 volts would require a large number of individual cells, which could significantly increase battery weight. Furthermore, sulfide-based solid-state electrolytes are considered extremely sensitive to moisture, making production complex and expensive. According to PatentPC, production costs currently range from $400 to $800 per kilowatt-hour.

Costs and market readiness

The economic viability of the technology also remains unclear. According to unofficial estimates, the price of the aforementioned solid-state battery could be ten to twenty higher than current lithium iron phosphate batteries. While economies of scale could reduce costs in the long term, there is currently no market-ready product (in terms of serial production) in sight.

Outlook

With this patent, Huawei is documenting an ambitious research direction, but there is still a long way to go from patent to marketable product. According to experts, the rumored range and charging promises should be viewed as a long-term vision rather than an imminent reality.