China steps up solid-state battery testing

China’s carmakers are pushing ahead with next-generation solid-state battery technology as competition in the country’s electric vehicle market intensifies.

FAW Group has become the latest manufacturer to begin real-world testing, with China’s state media confirming that a prototype electric SUV fitted with a solid-state battery has rolled off a pilot production line. The vehicle, a Hongqi Tiangong 06, is part of FAW’s luxury Hongqi brand.

According to Xinhua News Agency, the prototype follows more than a year of research and development, with FAW reporting progress in key areas including sulfide electrolytes and higher-capacity battery cells. The company says its solid-state cells have already passed extreme heat testing and achieved energy density levels well above those of conventional lithium-ion batteries.

FAW has been working on solid-state battery technology for more than a decade and is now targeting limited deployment in higher-end Hongqi models by the end of 2027, before broader rollout later in the decade.