China's GAC introduces solid-state battery, powering Hyper BEV from 2026, with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers

According to reports from Chinese media, during the GAC Technology Day held on April 12, 2024, GAC announced its groundbreaking all-solid-state battery technology. In addition, the BEV+OCC-based graph-less pure visual high-order intelligent driving will also be launched simultaneously, and these two technologies will appear together on the Hyper brand models in 2026. Advanced technologies such as electromagnetic suspension, MLounge Qiji Head Cabin, MBoard2.0 Qiji Core Smart Chassis, and the first flying car GOV were also displayed at the event, which fully demonstrates GAC's R&D strength.

It is reported that the battery uses 100% solid-state electrolytes that provides ultra-high energy density and strong inherent safety at the cell level. The transition "from laboratory to large-scale production application" marks an important milestone in battery technology.

GAC's all-solid-state power battery uses high-area capacity solid-state positive electrode technology and third-generation sponge silicon negative electrode technology (new nano-silicon composite negative electrode), with the solid-state positive electrode capable of achieving a high area capacity of more than 5mAh/cm2, thus achieving an energy density of more than 400Wh/kg. Compared to the currently most advanced liquid lithium-ion battery, its volumetric energy density and mass-energy density increase by more than 50%, allowing the vehicle's range to exceed 1,000km.

In terms of safety, GAC's all-solid-state power battery uses a high-strength dense composite electrolyte membrane, which prevents the battery from exploding in a 200°C thermal box test, setting a new record for high energy battery safety. In addition, the battery maintains stable performance in extreme conditions tested such as puncture, cutting, -78°C dry ice environment, soaking in 90°C hot water, and does not undergo thermal runaway under mechanical abuse conditions such as piercing and cutting, significantly enhancing vehicle safety.

Li Jin, head of GAC Aion's battery R&D department, compared the development of this technology to "climbing Mount Qomolangma" and pointed out the need for innovation in materials, design, manufacturing, and integration. He stressed the battery's outstanding energy density, inherent safety characteristics, and wider working temperature range.

At the Guangzhou Auto Show in November 2023, the GAC Group announced its plan to integrate solid-state batteries into cars by 2026. In early February of this year, GAC Aion demonstrated the development of ultra-solid-state batteries with an energy density exceeding 350Wh/kg.

Previously, GAC Aion's laboratory completed a proof of concept for the modification of solid-state battery interfaces, showing significant technological advancement. This breakthrough is expected to reduce battery life degradation by 50%, and it can still retain over 90% of its original capacity after 150 charging cycles.