Solid-batteries just got real — and they’re rolling off production lines: What you need to know

After years of hype and false starts, the EV game-changer might finally be here.

Backed by Chery and Gotion High-Tech, China’s Anoa New Energy (ANE) has started producing solid-state battery samples — and says mass production could begin as early as next year.

With 300 Wh/kg energy density, it's not revolutionary, but it’s real — and that's the biggest shift yet. 

ANE,  also known as Axxiva (founded in June 2020), shared their first batch of engineering samples of solid-state batteries, which rolled off their production line. 

ANE is focused entirely on solid-state battery development and production. It also aims to launch a gigawatt-hour level solid-state battery assembly.

The first-gen ANE batteries have an energy density of a somewhat disappointing 300 Wh/kg.

For context, Tesla's 4680 battery cells have an estimated energy density of around 270 Wh/kg, with a range between 244 to 296 Wh/kg.

So 300 Wh/kg for these solid-state batteries isn’t amazing, but it's still a solid improvement — enough to offer very good range. Improving energy density by even 10% is significant.

Chery New Energy controls 10% of the company. Gotion High-Tech, another big battery player in China, holds 6%.

No-fire-no-explosion test

The first batch of solid-state batteries was produced at their Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone on July 4. These are engineering samples, but they’ve reportedly passed China's “no fire, no explosion” safety standards, meaning they are very safe and have undergone significant testing.

So, how many batteries will they actually make? 

The planned production capacity is 1.25 GWh, with a production speed of 20 metres per minute. They use laser “slitting technology” to reduce dust pollution during manufacturing, ensuring high precision and minimizing defects.

Dry manufacturing process

ANE reportedly uses a five-step dry manufacturing process, similar to Tesla’s, which reduces energy consumption and fixed asset investment, thanks to the use of dry electrode manufacturing method.

The site is expected to include a 5 GWh solid-state battery R&D center and a fully integrated automated production line.

Back to energy density: the current version is 300 Wh/kg. The second-gen version, expected in 2026, aims for 400 Wh/kg, and by 2027 they hope to reach 500 Wh/kg.

If that’s accurate, an 80 kWh battery with 500 Wh/kg energy density could provide a range of about 1,000 km — potentially more. A 100 kWh battery would offer even more range, and could be great for towing or long trips without worrying about range anxiety.

As for which vehicles will use them: apparently, the Chery Exlantix ET has been spotted driving with a solid-state battery — it’s even labeled on the vehicle. 

Chery plans to use them in their new electric cars. 

Target 500 Wh/kg

Here’s the exciting part: when it hits 500 Wh/kg mark, these batteries could be used everywhere — in airplanes, sports cars, supercars — anywhere that lightweight, compact energy storage is essential.

Lowering the size and weight of the battery pack is a game-changer for many applications. 

In fact, future EVs could be significantly lighter than internal combustion cars, reversing today’s trend of heavier EVs. 

BYD denies report details

Meanwhile, BYD is denying reports — in fact, many reports — that it is testing a next-generation solid-state battery capable of providing 1,500 km of range. 

These reports claim the battery is being tested in BYD Seal sedans and can charge in 12 minutes. That’s not particularly fast for BYD, considering their current blade battery can charge in 5 minutes.

The new battery is reportedly being trialed until 2027, when it’s expected to go into production vehicles. That’s just two years away. BYD did admit it working on solid-state batteries — they just deny the specific details of these reports.

By 2030, BYD’s CTO Sun Huajun expects the technology to enter mass production.

Several companies are actively developing and beginning to integrate solid-state batteries into their products.

Most are in the prototype or pilot production stage, a few have started limited commercial deployment, especially in niche markets.

NIO: The Chinese EV manufacturer is already offering a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery in partnership with WeLion. It’s compatible with existing NIO models and supports battery swapping, enabling ranges up to 577 miles. NIO batteries are classified as "semi-solid-state" rather than fully solid-state.

Volkswagen Group (PowerCo/QuantumScape): Volkswagen, through its PowerCo battery subsidiary, has secured a licensing deal with QuantumScape to mass-produce solid-state cells. While full-scale commercial vehicles with these batteries are expected later this decade, pilot production and integration into test fleets are underway, with an initial capacity of 40 GWh annually targeted, as per EV Magazine.

Toyota: Toyota is targeting mass production of solid-state batteries for hybrid vehicles by 2027-2028, with a goal of deploying them in fully electric vehicles. Their technology aims for a 750-mile range and a 10-minute charging time, with initial commercial use expected in hybrids before scaling to EVs, according to Monolithai.

Solid Power: Backed by BMW and Ford, Solid Power has completed pilot production of all-solid-state batteries and is supplying cells to its automotive partners for testing and integration. Mass production is targeted for 2026, according to Moneywise and Exoswan.

Samsung SDI: Samsung has developed solid-state battery prototypes with a range of up to 800 km (about 500 miles) and a lifespan exceeding 1,000 cycles. The company has delivered samples to customers, with mass production aimed for 2027, initially targeting premium EVs and high-end applications, EV Magazine and GreyB reported.

Panasonic: In partnership with Toyota, Panasonic is developing sulfide-based solid-state batteries, with plans to begin EV production by 2027 and expand to industrial applications by 2029. The company is taking a gradual approach, leveraging its lithium-ion expertise for scalable manufacturing.

CATL and BYD: Both Chinese battery giants are advancing solid-state battery research and have announced plans for small-batch production and initial deployment in luxury or high-end EVs by 2027, with broader rollout to follow, according to Ecolithiumbattery.com..

Murata: Specialising in small-scale solid-state batteries for wearables, medical devices, and IoT sensors, Murata is already producing solid-state batteries for these applications and targets mass production by 2027. Their batteries are not yet used in EVs but are present in specialised electronics, according to Exoswan.