Svolt Energy initiates trial manufacturing of semi-solid-state battery units in the final quarter of the year
In a significant stride towards advancing battery technology, Svolt Energy, one of China's leading battery manufacturers, has announced the production of its new-generation Dragon Armor Battery. The battery, revealed on December 15, 2022, at Svolt's headquarters in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, is a ternary lithium battery designed for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs) with a capacity of up to 65 kWh.
The Dragon Armor Battery is set to be the world's largest of its kind in mass production, marking a significant milestone in the battery industry. Svolt Energy's first-generation semi-solid batteries will be supplied to BMW's Mini brand for its next-generation models, with mass production planned for 2027.
These semi-solid batteries bridge the gap between traditional lithium-ion liquid electrolyte systems and future all-solid-state batteries, offering a balance of energy density, cost-effectiveness, manufacturability, and safety improvements. Svolt plans future generations with even higher energy densities, targeting 360 Wh/kg for second-generation semi-solid-state batteries and 400 Wh/kg for their all-solid-state batteries aimed at automotive and eVTOL applications.
Svolt's first-generation semi-solid-state batteries feature an energy density of 300 Wh/kg, competitive for phase 1 products, combined with costs below the industry average. They use proprietary technologies including "Separator Transfer Technology" and "Thermal Composite Transfer Solid-State Electrolyte Technology" to achieve multiple advantages.
The batteries are fully compatible with existing liquid battery production lines, allowing integration without expensive new line investments. They also use a stacking process to mitigate solid electrolyte brittleness, resulting in yield rates exceeding 90%. The battery has a 140 Ah capacity, designed as a soft-pack, and will power BMW MINI’s next-generation models starting in 2027.
The Dragon Armor Battery supports 5C rate charging, enabling it to charge from 20 percent to 80 percent in 12 minutes. Svolt Energy will begin trial production of semi-solid-state batteries with a capacity of 140 Ah in Q4.
In another development, Svolt announced that its base in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, saw the second-generation Dragon Armor Battery roll off the production line. The Dragon Armor Battery with lithium iron phosphate cells could achieve a volume packaging efficiency of 76 percent and a range exceeding 800 kilometers. Svolt's first-generation all-solid-state batteries will achieve an energy density of 400 Wh/kg.
These advancements position Svolt Energy as a key player in the battery industry, with its first-gen semi-solid-state batteries offering a practical near-term solid-state-like solution with strong commercial prospects and a stepping stone to fully solid-state designs. Svolt Energy ranked ninth in the domestic power battery market with a 2.06 percent share, according to data from the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA).
[1] Svolt Energy Unveils Dragon Armor Battery, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/svolt-energy-unveils-dragon-armor-battery-301441724.html [2] Svolt Energy to Begin Trial Production of Semi-Solid State Batteries, https://www.reuters.com/business/autos-transportation/svolt-energy-to-begin-trial-production-semi-solid-state-batteries-2022-10-20/ [3] Svolt Energy's Semi-Solid State Batteries: A Game Changer, https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2022/12/20/svolt-energys-semi-solid-state-batteries-a-game-changer/?sh=3d134659361b
- Svolt Energy's new-generation Dragon Armor Battery, designed for extended-range electric vehicles (EREVs), is set to be the largest of its kind in mass production, marking a significant milestone in the battery industry.
- The first-generation semisolid-state batteries by Svolt Energy, featured in their Dragon Armor Battery, offer a balance of energy density, cost-effectiveness, manufacturability, and safety improvements, which is competitive for phase 1 products in the technology sector.
- Svolt Energy's strategic position within the energy sector is strengthened by the advancements in their battery technology, including the semi-solid-state batteries, which show strong commercial prospects, positioning them as a key player in both the data-and-cloud-computing and finance industries due to the increasing demand for energy solutions in these sectors.
