The automotive industry has been chasing a dream for years: batteries that offer greater range, more safety, and less weight. Solid-state batteries are presented as the great promise, and although they are not yet widespread, the latest moves by major manufacturers and startups indicate that the technology is progressing well.
While Chery has announced a multi-million dollar investment and a testing schedule for 2027, ProLogium has already begun mass production of its lithium-ceramic cells, with figures that double those of conventional batteries. Furthermore, science continues to deliver advances, such as the new material developed in Japan that could pave the way. All of this suggests that the solid-state battery revolution is closer than many think.
Chery is making a big bet: 1.300 billion and testing in 2027
The Chery automotive group, known in Spain for assembling Ebro, Omoda, and Jaecoo models at the former Nissan factory in Barcelona, ​​has announced an investment of nearly €1.300 billion in solid-state batteries. Company president Yin Tongyue unveiled the plan at the World Battery Conference held in China's Sichuan province. The 10.000 billion yuan investment will be accompanied by a team of 1.200 engineers dedicated to innovation in this field.
According to the executive, the batteries Chery expects to begin testing in 2027 would double the energy density of current lithium-ion cells. However, he declined to set a date for the market launch of vehicles equipped with these units. He did, however, make it clear that they will not install these batteries "unless they prove to be completely safe." This caution contrasts with the statements of Robin Zeng, founder of CATL, who in June asserted that large-scale production will not arrive until 2030, giving the technology a "four" out of ten in terms of maturity.
Chery's investment isn't solely financial. The company, China's largest vehicle exporter, has a significant presence in Latin American markets and is now eyeing Europe. Its Barcelona factory could be key to the future integration of these batteries into models produced on the continent, although concrete details are still pending.
ProLogium begins serial production with record figures
Taiwanese company ProLogium Technology, backed by Mercedes-Benz, has taken a decisive step by beginning mass production of its 3.5 generation lithium-ceramic battery. The 185,4 Ah cell achieves an energy density of 381 Wh/kg and a volumetric density of 903 Wh/L, values ​​that practically double the industry standard. These figures have been certified by UL Solutions under the Chinese standard GB/T 43568-2026, which includes vacuum and temperature testing to ensure that it is a truly solid-state technology.
The Logithium architecture, a large-format bag-type cell, integrates a ceramic-based separator and a sealed perimeter structure that guarantees electrical insulation without compromising volume. The Taoyuan plant in Taiwan has an initial capacity of 0,5 GWh per year, with plans to expand it to 1 or 2 GWh. But the big leap will come in Europe: ProLogium is building a gigafactory in Dunkirk, France , with an initial phase of 4 GWh per year and a design prepared to scale up to 44 GWh by 2030.
The collaboration with Mercedes, which began in 2022, has yielded results such as a Mercedes EQS that has traveled over 1.200 kilometers on a single charge. However, manufacturers are cautiously observing this progress, as the challenge lies not in achieving laboratory specifications, but in demonstrating that large-scale production is viable at competitive costs. Conventional LFP cells cost between 300 and 400 yuan per kWh, while ceramic electrolyte cells still need to become more affordable.
Science advances: a material that outperforms liquid electrolytes
While companies focus on production, research continues to provide key components. A team from Nagoya University in Japan has developed an oxyfluoride called LLNOF that achieves a lithium-ion conductivity of 16,3 mS/cm at 25 °C, the highest value ever recorded for a solid electrolyte based on oxides or oxyfluorides. This result, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, surpasses even the conductivity of conventional liquid electrolytes, which typically range between 5 and 10 mS/cm.
The secret lies in the material's crystalline structure, which allows lithium ions to move rapidly thanks to a 'local fluoride relaxation' mechanism. Fluoride atoms shift slightly to facilitate the ions' jump, reducing the energy required. Although this is a single-crystal breakthrough, researchers believe this mechanism could be applied to other materials, allowing science to overcome the dendrite problem and opening a new avenue for developing highly conductive solid electrolytes.
This discovery adds to other efforts, such as Panasonic's development of a solid-state battery capable of operating at 150°C, although intended for sensors and industrial machinery, not cars. All of this demonstrates that solid-state technology is not a pipe dream, but a field in full swing.
The race for solid-state batteries is at its peak. Chery has committed a multi-million dollar investment and a testing schedule, ProLogium is already producing cells with record-breaking energy densities, and science is providing materials that could accelerate their adoption. Europe, with the Dunkirk plant and the Barcelona factory, is emerging as a key hub for this revolution. Although challenges such as cost and large-scale production remain, the progress is undeniable and suggests that, in the next decade, solid-state batteries could become an everyday reality.
