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China’s GAC Group has initiated its first pilot production line capable of manufacturing large-format solid-state EV battery cells exceeding 60 Ah capacity. According to in-house reports the facility currently handles small batch runs but represents a critical shift from research prototypes to automotive-grade manufacturing.
The pilot line reportedly achieves an areal capacity of 7.7 mAh/cm² (significantly higher than traditional liquid-electrolyte cells, which typically reach around 5 mAh/cm²) suggesting GAC’s technology may be ripe for scaling.
Solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead of flammable liquid variants resulting in structural advantages such as longer life faster charging and enhanced thermal safety. GAC claims its new cells could nearly double the energy density of existing technology offering a 1 000 km (621 mile) driving range in a battery pack size that today delivers 500 km.
A Range And Safety Leap
If accurate the numbers signal a major turning point for EV batteries. Higher areal capacity means fewer cells are required for a given energy target. Fewer cells reduce weight complexity and cost. Meanwhile the solid electrolyte inherently grants better fire resistance and high-temperature tolerance, GAC rates stability up to 300-400 °C in some conditions.
With this milestone China appears to be catching up with or even overtaking long-touted efforts in Japan South Korea and the U.S. to commercialize solid-state EV batteries.
Challenges Remain On The Road To Reality
But setting up a pilot line is only step one. Industry observers point out that manufacturing yield stability cost of materials and the supply chain for solid-electrolyte components remain significant bottlenecks. For example the world-leading battery specialist CATL has publicly stated solid-state commercialization is still years away citing durability and scale-up issues.
GAC plans small-batch vehicle testing in 2026 with commercial delivery aimed between 2027 and 2030. The timing hinges on whether performance can be maintained in real-world conditions and whether production can reach cost competitiveness.
Strategic Implications For Automakers and Suppliers
For automakers this breakthrough means the next generation of EVs could offer dramatic improvements, longer range faster charging and enhanced safety. All of which can potentially tip the balance in global EV adoption. For battery suppliers and raw-material producers it signals a push into new chemistries and higher-demand materials.
At the same time the move raises competitive pressure for Japanese Korean and U.S. firms to accelerate rollout and refine production strategies. The electric-vehicle arms race is increasingly a battery-technology race.
