China Renames “Semi-Solid-State” Batteries as “Solid-Liquid”

Regulators in China are moving to standardise battery terminology, and it sees “semi-solid-state batteries” being officially renamed and reclassified as “solid-liquid batteries,” reports financial portal Yicai. 

The change aims to clarify the difference between transitional hybrid systems and true solid-state designs, both of which are seeing rapid development across China’s booming EV manufacturing sector.

Solid-liquid batteries combine solid and liquid electrolytes, with solid materials making up over 90 percent of the mix. They offer higher energy density and improved safety than conventional lithium-ion packs, while remaining compatible with existing production lines.

The design is seen as a stepping stone toward fully solid-state systems that remain costly and difficult to scale.

The timing reflects surging market and policy momentum. Between April and Oct, China’s Solid-State Battery Index nearly doubled as research breakthroughs and state support accelerated. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) and several other agencies have already listed solid-state batteries as a national research focus.

SAIC’s IM Motors, Roewe and MG brands are expected to launch cars with solid-liquid batteries from 2025, dubbed by analysts as the first year of mass adoption. The technology is expected to trickle down from premium EVs to mainstream models within three years.

Currently, costs and charging efficiency still lag behind lithium-ion, but improvements are expected as output scales. At the 2024 China Solid-State Battery Summit, academician Ouyang Minggao forecast three phases of development: 400 Wh/kg systems by 2027, 500 Wh/kg by 2030, and over 600 Wh/kg by 2035.

If approved, the “solid-liquid” label will formally define this transitional battery class, a crucial bridge between today’s lithium-ion and the next era of fully solid-state energy systems.

Source: CarNewsChina