eVTOLs All-Solid-State Battery
​From November 12 to 13, 2025, the World Power Battery Conference was held in Yibin, Sichuan, with all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) emerging as a focal topic. While ASSBs are hailed for their intrinsic safety and high energy density, opinions on their commercialization timeline and technical challenges remain sharply divided among industry experts.

Disagreement Over Commercialization Timeline​

Industry players presented conflicting projections for ASSB deployment:
  • Hive Energy Chairman Yang Hongxin​ predicted small-scale demonstration installations by 2027, but emphasized that large-scale commercialization would require further advancements in cost-effective manufacturing.
  • Gotion High-Tech (002074.SZ) Chief Scientist Zhu Xingbao​ claimed composite technology routes could enable ASSB integration into vehicles as early as 2026, with a 0.2 GWh experimental production line already operational.
  • Changan Automobile’s Deepal Brand Vice President Deng Chenghao​ forecasted ASSB demonstration in 2027 and gradual commercialization post-2030, cautioning that large-scale adoption might only occur by 2035.
  • CATL (300750.SZ)​ stated in May 2025 that its ASSB technology is industry-leading, with small-batch production targeted for 2027.
In contrast, academic experts​ expressed skepticism:
  • Wuhan University’s Professor Ai Xinping​ dismissed 2027–2030 timelines as overly optimistic.
  • China Automotive Engineering Society Chairman Zhang Jinhua​ projected ASSB commercial use by 2030–2031.
  • China Automotive Technology Research Center’s Wu Zhixin​ likened aggressive timelines to “fortune-telling,” suggesting ASSBs might only enter markets by 2032–2033.

Technical and Industrialization Challenges​

Key hurdles include:
  1. Material Systems: Sulfide, halide, oxide, and polymer electrolytes face stability, conductivity, and cost issues. For example, sulfide electrolytes require stringent moisture control, while halides struggle with interfacial stability.
  2. Manufacturing Scalability: Current ASSB production processes differ significantly from liquid lithium-ion batteries, demanding new equipment and techniques.
  3. Performance Trade-offs: Early ASSBs may sacrifice charging speed (e.g., low-rate capabilities) compared to liquid batteries, which already support 4C–5C fast charging.
Industry leaders urged a “cooling down”​ of hype:
  • Wu Zhixin​ stressed the need for a “quiet environment” for R&D, free from excessive market pressure.
  • Deng Chenghao​ criticized media overhyping minor breakthroughs, warning of misplaced consumer expectations that “liquid batteries are obsolete.”

Early Applications: Low-Altitude Economy and Robotics​

ASSBs are likely to first penetrate niche sectors requiring high energy density and safety:
  • eVTOLs (Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicles): Demand energy densities exceeding 400 Wh/kg. Companies like Sichuan Ao Shi Technology​ and Shenzhen Jiu Long​ are exploring ASSB integration but emphasize cost constraints.
  • Robotics: Manufacturers like Beijing Galaxy General Robotics​ prioritize compact, lightweight batteries with high safety and affordability. One official noted, “Battery costs must not exceed 10% of total system costs.”
However, early-stage ASSBs face cost barriers. For instance, DJI​ opts for cost-effective lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in drones, opting for frequent swaps over ASSB adoption.

Consensus and Path Forward​

Experts advocate a phased approach:
  • Composite Electrolytes: Combining materials like sulfides and polymers to balance performance and cost.
  • Modular Targets: Lowering initial energy density goals (e.g., 300–350 Wh/kg) to accelerate entry into sectors like 3C electronics and medical devices.
As Tsinghua University’s Huang Xuejie​ noted, resolving interfacial challenges and advancing material innovation remain critical to bridging the gap between lab breakthroughs and industrial reality.