Chinese gel electrolyte retains 84% over 350 cycles
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- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (Chinese Academy of Sciences) developed a PVDF-based gel composite electrolyte using lithium oxychloride (Li3OCl) that triggers a dehydrofluorination reaction, creating stronger bonds between organic and inorganic phases for faster lithium-ion movement.
- An NCA battery cell with the new electrolyte retained 84.15% of its original capacity after 350 charge cycles at a 1C rate, per the study published via ITHome.
- Changan Automobile plans trial installations of its "Golden Bell" all-solid-state battery — 400 Wh/kg energy density, 1,500 km CLTC range — before the end of Q3 2026.
- Chery revealed at its March "Battery Night" event that its all-solid-state battery can deliver over 1,500 km of range, while Dongfeng Motors is testing a 350 Wh/kg prototype in extreme cold with claims of 1,000+ km CLTC range.
- Stellantis and Factorial Energy began testing FEST solid-state battery cells in a Dodge Charger Daytona — the first solid-state battery integrated into an EV in North America.
- Mercedes-Benz drove a modified EQS over 745 miles (1,200 km) using Factorial's solid-state cells last September; Honda and QuantumScape announced a new partnership to develop and manufacture solid-state batteries.
- The article's own analysis notes that Factorial Energy and QuantumScape have already achieved over 1,000 charging cycles with more than 95% capacity remaining — a benchmark the new Chinese electrolyte has not yet matched.
Why it matters: China's new electrolyte retains 84.15% over 350 cycles — progress on durability, yet still trails Factorial and QuantumScape's 95%+ over 1,000 cycles. The broader pattern: Changan, Chery, and Dongfeng are all staking bold 1,000–1,500 km range claims, but the study itself provides no energy density or charging-speed data, making those automaker targets unverifiable from published results.
