Solid-state batteries for cars: progress 2026

The momentum for commercialization of solid-state batteries in the automotive industry is accelerating with a series of partnerships and specific timelines from 2026–2028, but it is accompanied by warnings about costs and technical challenges. Samsung SDI announced partnerships with BMW and SolidPower to validate the technology; Chery, Dongfeng, Toyota and Nissan have shown product demonstrations and deployment milestones, respectively. In the capital market, related stocks have rebounded strongly, but experts emphasize that the technology is still mainly at the experimental scale.

Samsung SDI – BMW – SolidPower cooperation: an important verification step

Samsung SDI has signed an agreement with BMW and SolidPower to develop a solid-state battery verification project. Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will use solid-state electrolytes developed by SolidPower to provide solid-state battery units with high energy density and claimed superior safety; BMW will be in charge of developing the battery modules and packs. The three parties will evaluate performance according to agreed parameters and test on BMW's next-generation verification vehicles.

Signals from manufacturers: deployment milestone 2026–2028

On October 18, at the Chery 2025 Global Innovation Conference, Chery demonstrated the Rhino S solid-state battery module in cooperation with Gotion High-Tech. The module uses a solid electrolyte with a stated energy density of 600Wh/kg, close to the theoretical limit of lithium batteries; the expected range is increased to 1,200–1,300 km. The Rhino S battery is scheduled to complete installation testing in 2027.

On October 20, Dongfeng announced that it had mass-produced solid-state batteries and established a supply chain, with installation expected to begin in 2026. Three days later, at the 2025 New Energy Battery Industry Development Conference, Chunyunda launched the "Xin Bitian" polymer solid-state battery with an energy density of 400Wh/kg; the 20Ah battery reportedly achieved 1,200 cycles under ultra-low pressure of less than 1MPa and passed safety tests such as at 200°C.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Keiji Kaita, director of the Toyota Carbon Neutral Technical Development Center, said the deployment plan is still on track, with the first production vehicle using solid-state batteries expected to launch in 2027 or 2028. Nissan expects its solid-state battery prototype for next-generation electric vehicles to have achieved performance equivalent to twice that of current batteries and is expected to enter mass production in 2028.

Capital markets react strongly to expectations

On November 3, solid-state battery-related stocks rose in unison: Tianhua New Energy rose more than 15%, Haimu Star rose more than 10%; Zhuhua Group, Shanghai Electric, and Foshan Technology also recorded significant gains. In the past half year, the solid-state battery industry index rose from 1,200 points in April to 2,426 points on October 9, almost doubling; the capitalization of Gotion High-Tech, Yiwei Lithium Energy, and Penguin New Energy increased by more than 120%, while Fudi Technology increased by 70%.

Technical barriers and costs: a cautious perspective

Despite the strong momentum, barriers to commercialization remain. At the September Teda forum, Honeycomb Energy CEO Yang Hongxin said solid-state batteries currently cost 5–10 times more than liquid batteries; mass production faces challenges in materials, technology, and supply chains.

Guo Guohong, deputy director of the Jiangsu University Institute of New and Specialized Industries, said that solid-state batteries are still in the experimental and small-scale testing stage. In his many years of monitoring, he has not found any solid-state batteries that can maintain an energy density of ≥400Wh/kg at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. According to him, there are enterprises that have announced mass production or achieved "above 500Wh/kg" but have not provided actual evidence.

Quick Info Panel

Time/Event	Unit	Main events
Co-verification	Samsung SDI – BMW – SolidPower	Using SolidPower solid-state electrolyte; Samsung SDI supplying battery units; BMW developing module/pack and testing on next-generation verification vehicle
October 18	Chery – Gotion High-Tech	Rhino S module demonstration, energy density 600Wh/kg; expected range 1,200–1,300 km; planned completion of installation testing in 2027
October 20	Dong Phong	Mass production announcement, supply chain setup; expected installation from 2026
3 days later	Xuan Van Dat	Launch of 400Wh/kg "Xin Bich Thien" polymer solid-state battery; 20Ah battery achieves 1,200 cycles under <1MPa; safety test at 200°C
Tokyo Motor Show	Toyota	The first production car using solid-state batteries is expected in 2027 or 2028.
Milestone 2028	Nissan	Expect mass production; performance is said to be twice that of current batteries

Conclusion: great opportunity, need to verify reality

Automotive-side momentum and collaboration with battery companies are moving solid-state batteries closer to commercial adoption, in line with the industry’s shift from the lab to the marketplace. However, claims of energy density and cycling reliability need to be validated under real-world operating conditions; cost and large-scale manufacturing capacity remain bottlenecks. The 2026–2028 roadmap is therefore a milestone, but final progress will depend on validation performance, supply chain capacity, and commercial-scale safety demonstration.

Source: https://baonghean.vn/pin-the-ran-cho-o-to-tien-do-20262028-va-rao-can-10310290.html