Semi-solid-state battery production trials commence by Svolt Energy in Q4
Svolt Energy, a leading Chinese battery manufacturer, is set to commence trial production of its first-generation semi-solid-state batteries in the fourth quarter of this year, with mass production scheduled for 2027. This announcement comes after the unveiling of the Dragon Armor Battery technology on December 15, 2022.
The semi-solid-state batteries, a significant innovation in battery pack structure rather than battery chemistry, have several key features that set them apart, particularly when compared to all-solid-state batteries.
Key Features of Svolt Energy's Semi-Solid-State Batteries
- Energy Density: Svolt Energy's semi-solid-state batteries achieve an energy density of 300Wh/kg in Phase 1, which is competitive but lower than the projected 400Wh/kg for all-solid-state batteries for eVTOL applications.
- Cost and Compatibility: These batteries have costs below the industry average and are fully compatible with existing liquid battery production lines, eliminating the need for redundant investments.
- Production Yield: The technology includes a stacking process that resolves solid electrolyte brittleness issues, achieving yield rates exceeding 90%.
- Technological Advancements: Svolt uses proprietary "Separator Transfer Technology" and "Thermal Composite Transfer Solid-State Electrolyte Technology".
Key Features of All-Solid-State Batteries
- Higher Energy Density: All-solid-state batteries are expected to offer higher energy densities (projected up to 400Wh/kg by Svolt) compared to semi-solid-state batteries.
- Safety and Stability: They are known for their improved safety and thermal stability, which reduce the risk of thermal runaway and increase the battery's operating range.
- Faster Charging: All-solid-state batteries can charge faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries.
- Material Innovations: They often utilize materials like ceramics, sulfides, or phosphates for the electrolyte, providing excellent ionic conductivity.
Benefits of Semi-Solid-State Over All-Solid-State Batteries
- Implementation Ease: Semi-solid-state batteries are more feasible for immediate production due to their compatibility with existing manufacturing lines, reducing the need for significant infrastructure changes.
- Cost Efficiency: Their costs are below the industry average, making them a more economical choice for current applications.
Benefits of All-Solid-State Over Semi-Solid-State Batteries
- Future Potential: All-solid-state batteries have the potential for even higher energy densities and improved safety, making them a promising technology for future applications.
- Enhanced Performance: They offer faster charging and broader operating ranges, which could be critical for advanced electric vehicles and eVTOLs. However, mass production is still years away due to technological challenges.
Svolt Energy's first-generation semi-solid batteries will be supplied to BMW's Mini brand for its next-generation models. Those using ternary cells can exceed 1,000 kilometers, according to Svolt Energy. The trial production will use Svolt's production line for mass-produced semi-solid batteries.
The new-generation Dragon Armor Battery, a ternary lithium battery for extended-range electric vehicles, has a capacity of up to 65 kWh. It supports 5C rate charging, enabling it to charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in 12 minutes. With lithium iron phosphate cells, it could achieve a volume packaging efficiency of 76 percent and a range exceeding 800 kilometers.
Svolt's second-generation semi-solid-state batteries will achieve an energy density of 360 Wh/kg. As one of China's largest battery manufacturers, Svolt Energy has a battery installation volume of 1.20 GWh in June. The company, which spun off from Great Wall Motor in February 2018, is primarily engaged in battery materials, cells, modules, packs, BMS, and energy storage technology.
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The semi-solid-state batteries developed by Svolt Energy, a significant advancement in data-and-cloud-computing-enabled technology, are set for trial production this year, with their compatibility with existing manufacturing lines contributing to their cost efficiency and implementation ease. In contrast, all-solid-state batteries, another technology breakthrough in data-and-cloud-computing, boast future potential for even higher energy densities and improved safety, making them a promising technology for advanced electric vehicles and eVTOLs, although mass production is still years away due to technological challenges.
