Solid-state batteries by 2030: CATL readiness, Chery tests and China’s plan

© A. Krivonosov

China has officially set 2030 as a target for the initial large-scale application of all-solid-state batteries. A 2026–2030 plan published by seven government departments calls for faster breakthroughs in electrode materials, new electrolytes and other key components, as well as the development of new battery systems. The wording does not mean that most electric cars will switch to the technology by 2030.

CATL is also cautious about the outlook. Chairman Robin Zeng said solid-state batteries are only at level 4 on a nine-level technology-readiness scale, while level 9 corresponds to readiness for mass production. He does not expect an inflection point before 2030 and says commercial viability still has to be proven. CATL had earlier named 2027 as a target for producing small pilot batches.

Industry forecasts do not point to an overnight revolution either. BloombergNEF expects solid-state batteries to account for about 10% of combined global battery demand from electric vehicles and stationary energy-storage systems by 2035. Analysts expect the technology to appear first mainly in expensive, high-performance vehicles.

Chinese companies are already committing substantial money to the next technology step. Chery plans more than 10 billion yuan in total investment in advanced technologies, including all-solid-state batteries. Its Rhino S solid-state module has reached a claimed energy density of 400 Wh/kg, with the first vehicle-integration tests planned for 2027. For now, 2030 therefore looks more like the start of industrial scaling than the date when conventional lithium-ion batteries disappear from mass-market vehicles.