CATL’s 500Wh/kg Solid-State Battery to Begin Mass Production by End of 2026

On February 26, 2026, CATL officially announced at its Global Frontier Battery Technology Conference that its new-generation 500Wh/kg automotive-grade solid-state battery has achieved a major technological breakthrough, with small-batch mass production and vehicle installation set to begin by the end of 2026. This marks the transition of China’s solid-state battery industry from laboratory R&D to commercialization.

Technological Breakthrough

The solid-state battery has been tested and certified by the National Automotive Quality Supervision and Inspection Center, achieving a single-cell energy density of 500Wh/kg — nearly three times that of current mainstream LFP batteries (approximately 160-180Wh/kg). This means that range could increase nearly threefold at the same weight, or battery weight could be significantly reduced at the same range.

Industrialization Progress

The mass production turning point for solid-state batteries is approaching. Driven by the global energy transition, solid-state batteries, with their high safety, high energy density, wide temperature range, and long cycle life, have become an important direction for next-generation energy storage technology upgrades.

The Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Zhongke Low-Carbon City Development (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. have jointly launched a solid-state battery industrial base construction project, with the first phase of 219 mu of industrial land located in Suzhou Industrial Park. Researcher Li Hong from the Institute of Physics serves as the project leader.

Policy Support

Since 2025, policies have been intensively introduced. The MIIT has listed solid-state batteries as a key priority, the Ministry of Finance has exempted solid-state batteries from consumption tax from September 2026 through end-2028, and multiple regions have introduced special plans. Capital-side investment projects have been active in the first half of the year.

Industry Impact

Mass production and vehicle installation of solid-state batteries will fundamentally solve the range anxiety and safety concerns of NEVs. A 500Wh/kg energy density means that vehicles equipped with 100kWh battery packs will be significantly lighter, with range easily exceeding 1,000km.