Geely prepares revolutionary 500 Wh/kg solid-state EV battery that could beat diesel
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- Geely announced a solid-state EV battery targeting 500 Wh/kg energy density — roughly double the best lithium-ion cells in production EVs today, where high-nickel NMC cells land around 250–300 Wh/kg and Tesla's 4680 sits near 245 Wh/kg.
- Geely began real-world validation in 2026 with pilot deployment across its brands (Geely, Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Volvo, Polestar, Lotus, Smart) slated for 2027, claiming vehicles would get a range "comparable to diesel-powered cars" over 1,000 km and a lifespan of up to 1 million km.
- Dow Chemical was named as materials partner, having developed an adhesive for the solid-state cells that stays stable from –40°C to 120°C, according to Dow technical lead Bo Tong — temperature stability being one of the harder problems in solid-state chemistry.
- Geely has not disclosed the electrolyte chemistry (sulfide vs. oxide) or the anode, has not put a date on cost-effective mass production, and has released no third-party cycle-life data behind the million-kilometer claim.
- CATL is targeting 2027 for pilot production of its own 500 Wh/kg sulfide solid-state cell, BYD is chasing the same 2027 window for all-solid-state demos before mass production later in the decade, and Toyota has pointed at 2027–2028 for its solid-state debut.
Why it matters: A 500 Wh/kg cell would halve battery weight for the same range or push range past 1,000 km per Geely's own claims. The catch: the 2027 pilot is a low-volume proof of concept, not mass production at a $30,000-car price, and CATL, BYD, and Toyota are all racing the same 2027 window with the same target.
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