Many MindedCATL moves sulfide solid-state cells into trial production, eyes 2027 pilot
CATL, the world's largest EV battery maker, has put its sulfide-based all-solid-state battery into trial production at 20 Ah cell size. The company is targeting an energy density of 500 Wh/kg. It told investors it expects small-scale production to start in 2027, with limited output at first and mass production around 2030. SNE Research puts CATL's share of the global EV battery market at 39.9% for the first half of 2026.
The approach uses a sulfide solid electrolyte in place of liquid. The stated hurdle is keeping stable contact between the solid components inside the cell. CATL chairman and CEO Robin Zeng rated the technology at level four on a one-to-nine maturity scale at the Summer Davos Forum in June, which marks it as still early.
CATL is not alone. Toyota aims to launch its first all-solid-state EV in 2027 or 2028 and says a prototype shown last year offers 745 miles (1,200 km) of range and charges in under 10 minutes. Samsung SDI plans mass production of its SolidStack cells in the second half of 2027. BYD plans its first solid-state-powered vehicle in 2027, and its FinDreams unit plans limited sulfide-based output that year and mass production by 2030.
The abundance case is that higher energy density means less battery mass for the same range, which over time should lower the cost of electric mobility and stationary storage. Several large makers converging on the same dates makes the timeline more credible than a single lab claim.
The caveats are large. All of these dates are company targets, not delivered products, and Toyota's range and charging figures come from its own prototype. Solid-state is also only one track: BYD's second-generation Blade LFP batteries already deliver over 1,000 km of CLTC range, and sodium-ion is advancing too. Watch for 2027 pilot output and real vehicle deliveries.
Source: Electrek