Geely to build and test full solid-state battery in 2026

The rush to commercialise solid-state batteries is the next frontier in the EV arms race, especially among Chinese carmakers eager to stand out in an increasingly crowded market. While MG was the first to offer semi-solid-state batteries last year, Geely looks to be in pole position when it comes to an all-solid-state battery, promising to build its first such a pack later this year.

Announced during the conglomerate’s five-year strategy briefing last week, the newfangled battery technology is set to undergo validation testing installed in a vehicle in 2026, according to CnEVPost. As yet, it is unclear when Geely plans to put the battery into mass production, nor has it made known which model will receive it first.

Before then, the company aims to commercialise semi-solid-state batteries that offer some of the safety benefits of a full solid-state unit. During the briefing, it also touted the safety of the Shendun Golden Short Blade battery that made its debut in the Galaxy Cruiser concept last year, featuring a bulletproof coating and protective materials to guard against “deformation, fire, and explosion.”

In addition, Geely is expected to put its self-developed lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP) battery into production. This adds manganese back into the cathode to achieve a 15% increase in energy density over LFP units while maintaining a similar cost advantage over NMC packs.

Widely regarded to be a panacea for EV woes such as range, longevity and safety, solid-state batteries are promised to offer much higher energy density and stability. Experimental cells have reportedly reached an energy density of around 400 Wh/kg, compared to 192 Wh/kg for the Aegis short blade LFP battery in the Proton eMas 7, CarNewsChina stated.