Are Solid-State Batteries Finally Here? Latest Progress from CATL, BYD, and Toyota

If you’re searching for "solid state battery release date 2025" or "2025 solid state battery technological breakthroughs," October 2025 is undoubtedly a pivotal milestone. Top international journals including Nature, Science, and Nature Sustainability have unveiled groundbreaking research, achieving critical leaps in safety and energy density. Meanwhile, global giants like CATL, BYD, and Toyota have clarified their 2027 mass production timelines, marking the industry’s official entry into the "countdown to commercialization."

Part 1: Pivotal Journal Breakthroughs: Solving 3 Core Mass Production Bottlenecks

For both industry R&D and market attention, the core pain points of solid-state batteries have always centered on "safety, durability, and cost control." Multiple research results published in top journals in October 2025 have specifically addressed these key issues, with the interface optimization technology from the Huang Xuejie team at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) being the latest practical breakthrough of the month.

1.1. Nature: A Fundamental Solution to Lithium Dendrite Short-Circuiting

A study published in Nature by a team from the University of Oxford has for the first time clearly revealed the two-stage growth mechanism of lithium dendrites—"initiation and propagation." Lithium metal first deposits and "takes root" in tiny pores of the solid electrolyte (SE). When the current density is too high, local plastic extrusion of lithium triggers electrolyte fragmentation, followed by "wedge-driven" propagation along cracks leading to short circuits.

The research also confirmed that instead of relying on traditional high-pressure packaging (5-10MPa), simply densifying the sulfide electrolyte to 99% allows it to withstand higher currents while inhibiting dendrite growth. This discovery directly reduces battery pack weight and manufacturing costs, significantly lowering the difficulty of mass production.

1.2. Science: Superionic Conductors Achieve "High Energy + Long Lifespan" Dual Breakthrough

The "superionic conductor" material developed by the team led by Academician Sun Xueliang from Ningbo Dongfang University of Technology, published in Science, solves the industry dilemma of "high energy density leading to short cycle life" in solid-state batteries. Featuring self-optimizing interface contact properties, prototype batteries based on this material boast an energy density exceeding 550Wh/kg (nearly double that of mainstream liquid batteries) and maintain 92% capacity retention after 500 cycles in initial tests, laying a material foundation for mass production.

1.3. Nature Sustainability: Pressure-Free Interface Bonding Technology Commercialized

On October 7, 2025, the Huang Xuejie team from the Institute of Physics, CAS, in collaboration with Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, CAS, published an interface optimization technology in Nature Sustainability—a key breakthrough for solid-state battery commercialization. Traditional technologies require applying over 5MPa of pressure (approximately 50 atmospheres) to maintain electrode-electrolyte contact, resulting in bulky batteries and high costs.

By introducing trace iodine ions into the sulfide electrolyte, the technology uses electric field forces to drive iodine ions to migrate automatically to the electrode interface, forming an iodine-enriched layer. This layer may reduce interfacial energy, enabling tight bonding between electrodes and electrolytes without external pressure devices. Test data shows that prototype batteries based on this technology have an energy density exceeding 500Wh/kg and maintain stable performance after hundreds of cycles, hailed by international experts as "a decisive step toward practicalization."

1.4. Nature (Tsinghua University): Polymer Electrolytes Realize "High Safety + Ultra-High Energy Density"

A fluorine-containing polymer electrolyte developed by the Zhang Qiang team at Tsinghua University, published in Nature, forms a stable protective layer on electrode surfaces through molecular design of an "anion-rich solvation structure." Pouch batteries based on this electrolyte achieve an energy density of 604Wh/kg, retain over 85% capacity after 500 cycles at 25℃, and pass extreme tests such as 6-hour high-temperature storage at 120℃ and nail penetration without combustion or explosion—realizing "both high energy and high safety."

Despite these significant technological breakthroughs, solid-state batteries still face uncertainties such as process consistency and raw material supply when moving from the laboratory to large-scale mass production, which will be the core challenges of industrialization in the next phase.

Part 2: Global Giants’ Mass Production Progress: 2025 Test Data & Deployment Plans

Cutting-edge journal research has been quickly translated into corporate practice. In October 2025, first-tier domestic and international enterprises released mass-production-grade products with clear performance parameters and timelines, providing a clear direction for industry development.

2.1. Chinese Giants: Pragmatic Transition, Targeting Large-Scale Mass Production in 2027

• CATL: Adopting a "multi-route parallel" strategy, its 5GWh all-solid-state battery pilot line in Hefei officially went into production in May 2025. Currently, semi-solid/condensed-state batteries are in vehicle-mounted testing, with energy density ranging from 350-400Wh/kg, supporting an 800V high-voltage fast-charging system that can replenish 400km of range in 10 minutes. They are scheduled to be launched in 2025 on models such as NIO ET7 and IM L6. Focusing on the sulfide route for all-solid-state batteries, laboratory samples have achieved an energy density exceeding 500Wh/kg, with small-scale mass production planned for 2027.

• BYD: Taking "semi-solid transition + all-solid-state breakthrough" as its core path, BYD plans to conduct pilot vehicle installations of all-solid-state batteries in 2027 and aims to achieve "equal price for solid and liquid batteries" by 2030. Currently, semi-solid battery samples have an energy density of 380Wh/kg, a cycle life exceeding 1200 times, and a capacity retention rate of over 75% at -30℃, focusing on meeting the R&D needs of high-end models.

• Sunwoda: The "Xin·Bixiao" series of solid-state batteries adopt lithium dendrite control technology. Mass-production-grade products have an energy density of 400Wh/kg (laboratory samples reach 520Wh/kg), a discharge efficiency of 70% at -30℃, and stable performance after 1200 cycles. A 0.2GWh pilot line will be completed by the end of 2025 to pave the way for mass production in 2027.

• Gotion High-Tech: Focusing on the oxide route, its "Jinsi Battery" has an energy density of 350-400Wh/kg and passed a 200℃ high-temperature test without abnormalities. With a current yield rate of 90%, construction of a 2GWh mass production line has started, with vehicle-mounted application planned for 2027.

2.2. International Giants: In-Depth Technology R&D, Planning Large-Scale Vehicle Installation in 2027

• Toyota: Boasting over 1300 patents in the sulfide route, the yield rate of its pilot line with Panasonic (Taiyo Energy) has reached 95%. Targeting the launch of electric vehicles equipped with all-solid-state batteries in 2027, it adopts a "sulfide electrolyte + lithium metal anode" solution, reducing interface impedance by 50%, achieving a cycle life of 1500 times, and enabling 300km of range with 10 minutes of charging.

• Samsung SDI: Co-developing sulfide solid-state batteries with BMW, samples completed in 2024 have an energy density of 350Wh/kg, with mass production planned for 2027. Supporting 80% charge in 9 minutes, they are designed for a service life of up to 20 years. It is also laying out the oxide route for energy storage applications and has secured orders for large-scale European energy storage projects.

• Tesla: Developing a "sulfide + polymer" composite electrolyte route, with related technical patents publicly disclosed. Targeting an energy density of 400Wh/kg, it plans to launch mass-produced vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries in 2028.

Part 3: Performance Comparison: Solid-State vs. Traditional Liquid Batteries

The following data, sourced from top journal experiments and corporate public parameters, intuitively demonstrates the performance leap of solid-state batteries:

Part 4:Application Expansion: Solid-State Batteries to Reshape 4 Industry Energy Landscapes

The performance advantages of solid-state batteries extend beyond new energy vehicles, bringing disruptive changes to multiple sectors and driving industry-wide energy upgrades.

4.1. New Energy Vehicles: 1200km Range Expected by 2027

Brands like NIO and IM will launch models equipped with semi-solid-state batteries in 2025, with range exceeding 1000km. After the launch of all-solid-state battery models by Toyota, BYD, and other enterprises in 2027, range will further increase to 1200km. Combined with the 800V high-voltage fast-charging system, full charge can be achieved in 30 minutes, completely resolving electric vehicle range and charging anxiety.

4.2. Low-Altitude Economy: UAV Range Triples

A 20Ah sulfide solid-state battery (energy density 480Wh/kg) developed by the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, CAS, has passed eVTOL aircraft testing. It can extend UAV flight time from the traditional 1 hour to 2-3 hours, significantly improving operational efficiency in logistics delivery, aerial inspection, and other scenarios.

4.3. Consumer Electronics: Thinner, Lighter Foldables with Longer Battery Life

Flexible solid-state batteries developed by the Institute of Metal Research, CAS, can withstand 20,000 bends and are only 0.1mm thick. Future applications in foldable phones, smart watches, and other devices will reduce product thickness by 1/3 while increasing battery life by 50%, addressing the current pain points of short battery life and poor durability in flexible devices.

4.4. Energy Storage Stations: 3x Longer Lifespan, Significantly Lower O&M Costs

Energy storage-specific solid-state batteries developed by CATL and Samsung SDI have a cycle life exceeding 15,000 times (3x that of existing liquid energy storage batteries) and can operate stably in environments ranging from -30℃ to 60℃. This will drastically reduce the replacement frequency and maintenance costs of large-scale energy storage stations, driving the industry toward high reliability and low costs.

Part 5: Industry Timeline: Key Milestones from Lab to Mass Production

Combining journal research maturity and corporate mass production plans, the core timeline for solid-state battery development is clear:

• End of 2025: Mass vehicle installation of semi-solid-state batteries in China; intensive commissioning of all-solid-state battery pilot lines (including industrialization of Huang Xuejie team’s technology).

• 2027: CATL, BYD, Toyota, and Samsung SDI simultaneously launch small-scale mass production/pilot vehicle installations of all-solid-state batteries; market enters the introduction phase.

• 2030: All-solid-state battery costs drop to match traditional liquid batteries; BYD and other enterprises achieve "equal price for solid and liquid batteries," with full popularization in automotive, energy storage, and consumer electronics sectors.

• 2035: Global solid-state battery market size exceeds 1 trillion USD; Asia (China, Japan, South Korea) becomes the core region for technology and production capacity, dominating the global industrial chain.

Part 6: Technology Route Comparison: Giants’ Choices & Competitive Focus

Technology route selection directly impacts the commercialization pace and application scenarios of solid-state batteries, with the industry currently forming a multi-route competitive pattern:

Conclusion: 2025 is the Starting Point—2027 Expected to Be the "Year of Solid-State Batteries"

The October 2025 technological breakthroughs in top journals, coupled with the commissioning of pilot lines by domestic and international giants, mark the official launch of solid-state battery industrialization. Core pain points such as safety, cost, and lifespan have been gradually resolved, with mass production imminent.

For ordinary consumers, more electric vehicles and consumer electronic devices equipped with solid-state batteries will be available by 2027. For industry practitioners, competition between sulfide and oxide routes will intensify, with technological innovation and large-scale manufacturing capabilities becoming core corporate competitiveness.

References 

1. Bruce, P. G., Ning, Z., Li, G., & Melvin, D. (2023). Dendrite initiation and propagation in lithium metal solid-state batteries. Nature, 618(7967), 857-863. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-023-05970-4

2. Sun, X., Wang, L., & Li, M. (2025). Integrated superionic conductor for self-healing solid-state batteries. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adt9678

3. Huang, X., Zhang, H., & Yao, X. (2025). Anion regulation enables pressure-free interfacial contact in sulfide solid-state batteries. Nature Sustainability. https://www.las.ac.cn/front/product/detail?id=e5a1da07193dde220cc231baa100c8e8

4. Zhang, Q., Huang, X., & Zhao, C. (2025). Tailoring polymer electrolyte solvation for 600 Wh kg⁻¹ lithium batteries. Nature, 640(7697), 582-588. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09565-z