(MENAFN- The Arabian Post)

A major step in electric-vehicle battery technology has been reached as GAC Group announced the completion of China's first large-capacity all-solid-state battery production line capable of manufacturing vehicle-grade cells of 60 ampere-hours or more. According to company statements, the new line has achieved an areal capacity of 7.7 mAh/cm2, compared with under 5 mAh/cm2 for many conventional lithium-ion cells, signalling a potential leap in energy storage performance.

GAC's research director, Qi Hongzhong, said that the energy density of the new solid-state cells is nearly double that of traditional liquid-electrolyte batteries and that vehicles currently capable of about 500 km range could stretch beyond 1000 km once the technology is integrated. The production line is presently in small-batch testing; vehicle integration trials are planned for 2026, with full mass-production targeted between 2027 and 2030.

This development places GAC among the first manufacturers globally to deploy large-format all-solid-state technology, an area in which automakers and battery firms in Japan, Korea and the United States have long been striving. Analysts observe that scaling solid-state technology from lab cells to industrial manufacturing has been a major bottleneck, primarily due to challenges around thick-electrode fabrication, solid-electrolyte interface stability, and cost. GAC's ability to hit the 7.7 mAh/cm2 threshold suggests the company has resolved at least one of the key obstacles.

The solid-electrolyte used in the new cells reportedly allows higher thermal thresholds-tolerating 300-400 °C compared to about 200 °C for conventional cells-and the battery manufacturing process incorporates a“dry” anode method that combines slurry mixing, coating and rolling into a single step. These process innovations are claimed to reduce energy consumption during manufacture and increase yield.

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Alongside GAC's progress, Dongfeng Motor Corporation is advancing its own all-solid-state agenda, targeting mass production of a 350 Wh/kg solid-state battery in September 2026, which it says will enable electric vehicles to achieve a range in excess of 1,000 km. Dongfeng already operates a 0.2 GWh pilot line and is working on variants of 400 Wh/kg and 500 Wh/kg solid-state batteries. The firm states that its 350 Wh/kg battery retains over 72% of its capacity at –30 °C and passed a 170 °C thermal safety test, surpassing current national standards.

Together these announcements reinforce the increasing pace of commercialization in the solid-state battery sector. Manufacturers hope such cells will deliver significant advantages over conventional lithium-ion chemistry: higher energy density, faster charging, better cold-weather performance and improved safety due to the absence of flammable liquid electrolytes. In GAC's case, the large-cell format means fewer cells are needed per pack, potentially reducing packaging complexity, cost and weight.

However, experts caution that substantial hurdles remain before widespread adoption. Solid-electrolyte materials and manufacturing infrastructure are still costly, and long-term durability in automotive conditions – repeated charge/discharge cycles, thermal stress and mechanical vibration – must be validated. Further, supply-chain constraints for key materials such as solid-electrolyte precursors, special anode/cathode materials and high-purity manufacturing equipment continue to pose risks. GAC and Dongfeng both emphasise the need for ecosystem readiness, including new cell formats, pack integration and vehicle platforms designed for solid-state cells.

The strategic dimension of this move is significant: as China consolidates its leadership in electric vehicles and battery manufacturing, gaining industrial-scale capabilities in solid-state technology could confer a competitive edge. The reported 7.7 mAh/cm2 areal capacity and 60 Ah cell format indicate that GAC is not simply experimenting in the lab but making strides towards production-level readiness. Whether the transition to full-scale mass manufacture meets the timetable will be closely watched by global automakers and battery suppliers alike.

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