Range anxiety may finally be on its way out. GAC Group has completed China’s first production line for automotive-grade all-solid-state batteries with capacities exceeding 60 Ah, a milestone that could roughly double driving range to more than 620 miles on a single charge. The new line is already running small-batch testing and production, positioning GAC as the first manufacturer with large-capacity solid-state battery production capability.
The company says its solid-state cells deliver nearly twice the energy density of today’s conventional lithium-ion batteries. According to GAC’s research lead Qi Hongzhong, an electric car that currently travels about 500 km (310 miles) could surpass 1,000 km (620 miles) using these next-gen cells. The batteries reportedly achieve an areal capacity of 7.7 mAh/cm², underscoring their high-energy design.
Solid-state technology replaces the liquid electrolyte found in traditional lithium-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte. This “liquid-free” construction improves thermal stability and safety, with the solid electrolyte able to withstand approximately 300–400°C (about 570–750°F), compared to around 200°C (about 390°F) for conventional cells. For drivers, that translates to a safer battery architecture that’s more resistant to thermal runaway and better suited to the demands of high-performance EVs.
Beyond performance and safety, GAC is tackling manufacturing efficiency. The company has introduced a dry electrode process for the negative electrode that consolidates three separate steps—slurry preparation, coating, and rolling—into a single operation. This streamlines production, reduces energy consumption, and lowers costs, improving the pathway from pilot runs to scalable output.
GAC’s roadmap targets small-batch vehicle integration and testing in 2026, followed by a gradual scale-up toward mass production between 2027 and 2030. As with any breakthrough, commercial success will depend on supply chain readiness and long-term validation in real-world conditions. Even so, this development aligns with broader national goals that anticipate large-scale adoption of solid-state batteries by 2035.
If these timelines hold, the impact could be sweeping: longer-range EVs without oversized battery packs, improved safety from higher thermal tolerances, and more efficient manufacturing that brings costs down. For consumers and automakers alike, this is a strong signal that solid-state batteries are moving from the lab into the factory—and soon, onto the road.
