AUTONEWS

Solid-state battery with 525 Wh/kg energy density moves to production and road tests

The solid-state battery entered production by a VW subsidiary just when BMW started testing an i7 with solid-state cells. It boasts over 500 Wh/kg energy density, or double what the Tesla 4680 battery offers.

The second generation solid-state battery cell of one of the world's top 10 battery makers - Gotion - has managed to achieve a 50% capacity boost over the first generation's 350 Wh\kg.

After a year of validation, Gotion managed to tweak its Gemstone battery formula for a 60% improvement in solid sulfide electrolyte ion conductivity that brought on an energy density increase to over 500 Wh/kg.

For comparison, Tesla's 4680 battery cells with liquid electrolyte that power the Cybertruck pack half the energy density, while the LFP batteries that are in mass market electric cars or popular power stations like the Anker Solix C1000 come with even lower capacity numbers.

The solid-state battery has now entered pilot production, says Gotion, starting it slow with 200 MWh factory capacity that returns 90% yield, and the packs are currently undergoing road testing in electric vehicles.

The second generation Gemstone solid-state battery also achieved a 90% reduction in stacking pressure pre-tension force, allowing Gotion to pass all safety procedures like nail penetration, crash tests, or thermal runaway experiments with flying colors.

Given the increasing number of top tier manufacturers like CATL that have initiated solid-state battery testing and even pilot manufacturing, the self-imposed 2027 deadline for mass solid-state battery deployment in electric vehicles looks increasingly within reach.

This is when Toyota, Samsung, BYD and CATL said they will start mass solid-state battery production, although Toyota warned that the safer, high-capacity cell technology will first be installed in premium electric vehicles in the Lexus brand due to its higher costs.

Gotion is partially owned by Volkswagen, so the pilot Gemstone cells might have been installed in its vehicles for road trials. BMW also started solid-state battery testing with its i7 sedan on May 20th, indicating that the race who will be first to initiate mass production of an EV with solid-state battery is already on.

BMW Group and Solid Power are testing all-solid-state battery cells in a BMW i7...The BMW Group is bringing large-format, pure ASSB cells from Solid Power to its test vehicle, a BMW i7, which is being operated in the Munich area. The potential benefits of ASSB technology: higher energy density in a very compact storage system compared to current technologies.

Since 2022, the BMW Group and Solid Power, Inc. have intensified their activities for the development of all-solid-state battery (ASSB) technology through their technology transfer agreement.

The BMW Group and Solid Power believe in the potential of genuine ASSB technology. With a higher energy density compared to current battery technologies, ASSB batteries have the potential to achieve longer ranges in vehicles without the disadvantages with regard to the weight of the overall storage system.

“Solid Power is extremely proud that our partnership with BMW has resulted in the first demonstration of truly all-solid-state battery cells in a vehicle,” said John Van Scoter, President and Chief Executive Officer of Solid Power.  “We believe in the promise of ASSB’s and continue to drive innovation of our sulfide electrolyte in support of that future for EV’s.”

Martin Schuster, Vice President Battery Cell and Cell Module at the BMW Group, says: “Our BMW i7 ASSB test vehicle on the road is a perfect example of the BMW Group's technology-open mindset. We are continuously advancing the development of new battery cell technologies and are constantly expanding our know-how with valuable partners such as Solid Power. ”

The concept battery integrated in the BMW i7 test vehicle combines proven Gen5 construction principles (prismatic cells in modules) with new, innovative module concepts for integrating ASSB cells from Solid Power.

The management of cell expansion will be investigated here. In addition: How is the operating pressure controlled and how to adjust the temperature conditions.

The use of solid power cells with sulfide-based electrolytes and their complete integration into a battery pack will provide the BMW Group with further important findings in the test program over the coming months.

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