All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) are a critical new driving force for the future development of the New Energy Vehicle (NEV) industry. According to CCTV's recent report, China's first mass-capacity production line for ASSBs has been completed and is currently undergoing small-batch trial production.

Compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, the biggest advantage of ASSBs is that they contain no liquid; they are composed entirely of solid-state materials. This makes future NEVs safer and capable of driving longer distances.

It was learned that the advantage of the "liquid-free" battery stems from two key innovations in the production line. In the anode manufacturing process, traditional liquid batteries require three separate steps—slurry preparation, coating, and calendering—while the new dry process combines these three steps into one, simultaneously reducing energy consumption and boosting efficiency.

Experts point out that aside from production process optimization, the other core breakthrough is the change in the electrolyte. They have discarded traditional liquid electrolyte and switched to self-developed solid-state electrolyte materials, which significantly enhances the product's thermal resistance and safety.

File photo by Zhang Jian (NBD)

With technical breakthroughs achieved on the production line, the next step is industrialization and market implementation. GAC Group has completed the construction of China's first large-capacity ASSB production line, making it a pioneer in the industry with the capacity for mass-producing automotive-grade ASSBs rated above 60 ampere-hours (Ah).

Qi Hongzhong, Head of NEV Power R&D at GAC Group Platform Technology Research Institute, stated: "The energy density of the ASSBs currently under development is nearly double that of existing batteries. This will allow vehicles with a current range above 500 km to achieve a range exceeding 1,000 km. The plan is to conduct small-batch vehicle testing in 2026, with gradual mass production scaling up between 2027 and 2030."

According to media reports, "Solid-state batteries are undoubtedly the global focus of competition for the next 15 years, and China is projected to hold over 80% of the future global solid-state battery market share." This was stated by Zhang Xiaofei, Chairman of GaoGong Lithium Battery, at the company's 2025 Annual Conference on November 18th. The 2025 Blue Book on China's Solid-State Lithium Battery Industry Chain Development, released at the conference, predicts that between 2027 (or 2028) and 2030, the industry will focus on establishing GWh-level production lines. By 2035, global shipments of solid-state lithium batteries are expected to exceed 900 GWh.

Currently, solid-state batteries are in the early stages of market application, with initial breakthroughs achieved in manufacturing processes and end-user applications. In the application sector, some battery companies are already using solid-state batteries for validation in NEVs, and supporting models are gradually moving from those priced above 350,000 yuan down to those below 300,000 yuan. In the eVTOL sector, EHang has also completed the world's first eVTOL flight test using a solid-state battery, significantly increasing its endurance by 60% to 90%.

However, the maturity of the ASSB supply chain remains relatively low, with high product cost being one of the most significant issues.

As of September 2025, the price of a semi-solid-state cell in China (included tax) ranges from approximately 0.5 yuan/Wh to 0.7 yuan/Wh, while all-solid-state batteries are priced between 2 yuan/Wh and 3 yuan/Wh. This is still a large discrepancy compared to liquid batteries, which are priced at 0.4 yuan/Wh to 0.5 yuan/Wh, indicating that solid-state batteries currently offer a low cost-performance ratio.

"The automotive-grade solid-state battery technologies currently in mass production primarily utilize composite electrolyte and a small portion of polymer electrolyte systems. Sulfide-based automotive-grade ASSBs are expected to achieve small-batch installation after 2027. By 2035, global shipments of solid-state lithium batteries are expected to exceed 900 GWh, with all-solid-state batteries accounting for over 550 GWh," the Blue Book forecasts. For comparison, the global shipment of lithium batteries in 2024 was approximately 1,500 GWh.

It is projected that the peak construction period for solid-state battery capacity, primarily semi-solid-state, will occur between 2025 and 2026. This round of expansion will mainly focus on semi-solid-state batteries, with capacity for the energy storage sector expected to be prioritized for release. According to incomplete statistics from GGI, planned capacity for the domestic solid-state battery industry over the last four years exceeds 450 GWh, with over 98% being semi-solid-state. Although the industry's actual commissioned capacity currently exceeds 25 GWh, the effective utilization capacity is less than 20 GWh.