Recently, solid-state batteries, known as the future development direction of lithium batteries, have once again received attention. Several companies have announced their latest developments in the field of solid-state batteries.

Solid state batteries have become a new investment hotspot

Weilan New Energy Plan plans to mass produce mixed solid-liquid batteries within the year

At the China Automotive Hundred People Forum held on March 27th, Li Hong, Chief Scientist and Founder of Weilan New Energy, revealed that Weilan New Energy is collaborating with NIO Motors to launch a hybrid solid-liquid battery with a single charge range of 1000 kilometers based on the ET7 model.

Li Hong revealed that this hybrid solid-liquid battery is expected to start mass production at the end of this year or the first half of next year, with a battery pack capacity of 150 kWh and an energy density of 360Wh/kg.

Weilan New Energy was established in 2016, focusing on the research and production of mixed solid-liquid electrolyte lithium batteries and all solid-state lithium batteries. It is the only industrialization platform for solid-state battery technology in the Clean Energy Laboratory of the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The company is headquartered in Beijing and has three major production bases in Fangshan, Beijing, Liyang, Jiangsu, and Huzhou, Zhejiang.

It is reported that Weilan New Energy is currently building a new battery factory in Zibo, Shandong, to produce hybrid solid-liquid batteries and all solid state batteries. The project started construction in February this year, with a first phase investment of 10.2 billion yuan and an annual battery production of 20GWh.

It is worth noting that according to the Qichacha APP, on March 24th, Weilan New Energy underwent business changes, adding multiple shareholders such as Hubei Xiaomi Changjiang Industry Fund Partnership (Limited Partnership) and Huawei's affiliated company Shenzhen Hubble Technology Investment Partnership (Limited Partnership). At the same time, the registered capital of the company increased from 58.0368 million yuan to 61.3673 million yuan, an increase of 5.74%.

Huineng Technology plans to go public in the United States or Europe this year and next

According to foreign media reports, solid-state battery developer Huineng Technology, supported by Mercedes Benz, is considering listing in the United States or Europe and may conduct another round of financing before the IPO.

Huineng Technology was founded in 2006. After receiving $326 million in investment from investors such as Chunhua Capital and SoftBank China Venture Capital last year, the company also received nearly 100 million euros in investment from Mercedes Benz in January of this year and announced the signing of a technology cooperation agreement to jointly develop solid-state battery cells for electric vehicles. The first batch will be equipped with Mercedes Benz test vehicles to be launched in the coming years.

In addition, on March 9th, Gogoro announced a collaboration with Huineng Technology to jointly develop the world's first battery swappable electric vehicle solid-state battery prototype. The new solid-state battery technology is expected to gradually enter mass production in the next 3 to 4 years.

Samsung SDI builds the first pilot production line for all solid-state batteries in the industry

On March 14th, Samsung SDI announced the groundbreaking of its all solid state battery testing line, covering an area of approximately 6500 square meters. The company plans to introduce pure battery electrode plates, solid electrolyte processing equipment, and battery assembly equipment to the trial production line.

It is reported that Samsung SDI is developing a solid-state battery based on sulfides, which has obtained relevant patents and entered the technical verification stage. This trial production line is expected to enable Samsung SDI to surpass other competitors in the mass production of all solid state batteries.

As early as March 2020, Samsung SDI announced a new solid-state battery prototype technology. The company claimed that the battery could achieve a single charge of 800 kilometers, with over 1000 charges and a total range of 1 million kilometers.

Pohang Group Building New Solid State Battery Production Facilities

On March 14th, Pohang Group announced the construction of a new solid-state battery production facility in Liangshan City, Gyeongsangnam do, South Korea. The company stated that starting from the second half of 2022, the new factory will produce 24 metric tons of solid electrolytes annually, as the solid-state battery market is expected to mature from 2030.

High energy era completed financing of over 50 million RMB

Recently, High Energy Era, an all solid state lithium battery company, completed a financing of over 50 million RMB. This round of financing is led by Tongchuang Weiye, with other investors including CICC Chuanyu Phoenix Fund, Xinwangda, Zhuhai High tech Venture Capital, and other institutions.

It is reported that GTC POWER was established in 2020, dedicated to the research and development of all solid-state lithium battery products.

Tailan New Energy completes Series A+financing

Recently, solid-state lithium-ion battery startup company Tailan New Energy announced the completion of A+round financing, with exclusive investment from Country Garden Venture Capital. The funds in this round will be used for production line construction, product research and development, and talent building.

Tailan New Energy focuses on the technological development and industrialization of new solid-state lithium batteries and key lithium battery materials. It is currently constructing a 200MWh new generation high specific energy solid-state lithium battery automation production line in Liangjiang New Area, Chongqing, and is expected to be officially completed and put into operation in September 2022.

Enli Power completed Series A financing of over 100 million yuan

In January this year, Enli Power, a high-tech company specializing in the research and development of new generation batteries and core materials such as lithium metal batteries and solid-state batteries, announced the completion of Series A financing of over 100 million yuan (including Enpower's solid-state battery companies in China, Japan, and the United States). This round of financing was led by Microelectronics Venture Capital, with Borun Capital, Yuannuo Tiancheng, Green Power Capital, and Potential Energy Capital participating.

Previously, Enli Power had received three rounds of continuous investment from Zhongke Chuangxing.

In addition to the aforementioned companies, power lithium-ion batteries and automotive giants such as CATL, Honeycomb Energy, Panasonic, LG Chemical, Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen, etc. have also laid out solid-state batteries.

There is still a long way to go before actual mass production

Solid state batteries refer to lithium batteries that use solid electrolytes. Compared with traditional lithium batteries, solid-state batteries are safer and have higher energy density. According to relevant institutions, the shipment volume of solid-state batteries in China is expected to increase rapidly from 2020 to 2030, and may exceed 250GWh by 2030.

The state encourages the development of solid-state batteries. As early as December 2019, the "Development Plan for the New Energy Vehicle Industry (2021-2035)" (draft for soliciting opinions) proposed to strengthen the research and industrialization process of solid-state batteries.

Relevant institutions predict that if all solid state batteries are successfully mass-produced, not only will the electrolyte and separator processes undergo changes, but it will also drive demand for materials such as high nickel positive electrodes, silicon carbon negative electrodes, and lithium metal negative electrodes.

However, due to the need to address issues such as low lithium ion conductivity, broken lithium dendrites leading to dead lithium, poor solid-solid interface contact and stability in solid-state electrolyte materials, the industry generally believes that it will take 5-10 years for all solid-state batteries to achieve large-scale production.

At the forum of the China Electric Vehicle Hundred People Conference, Ouyang Minggao, Vice Chairman of the China Electric Vehicle Hundred People Conference and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, stated that 2025 is a critical period for the transition from liquid batteries to solid-state batteries.

According to Ouyang Minggao, the industrialization target for battery energy density in 2025 is 350Wh/kg (currently less than 300Wh/kg). This stage is still a liquid electrolyte system, which mainly includes solid-liquid mixed materials and other liquid battery material systems.

The goal for 2030 is to achieve 400Wh/kg and achieve industrialization in all aspects. This stage is the transition from liquid to solid, including quasi solid state battery systems.

2030 should be a key milestone for the development of all solid-state batteries. In 2030, he estimates that the proportion of solid-state batteries in China will not exceed 1%.

The goal for 2035 is to achieve 500Wh/kg and achieve industrialization. Including all solid-state batteries, etc.