Hongqi, the premium automotive brand of China FAW Group, has introduced its first prototype vehicle equipped with an all-solid-state battery, marking a milestone in its efforts to advance next-generation battery technology toward mass production, the company said on Thursday.
The all-solid-state battery pack, developed by Hongqi’s research and development headquarters, was installed on Dec. 31 in a Hongqi Tiangong 06 prototype vehicle, enabling the brand to begin real-vehicle testing of the technology. The company did not disclose details on the battery’s energy density or the vehicle’s driving range.
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Hongqi said solid-state batteries are widely seen as the future of power batteries due to their potential for higher energy density and improved safety compared with conventional lithium-ion systems. The automaker noted that development remains challenging, requiring progress across materials science, cell design, manufacturing processes and system-level integration.
According to the company, its research team achieved several breakthroughs after more than 470 days of development, including advances in sulfide electrolytes, 10 ampere-hour cell performance and 60 ampere-hour cell manufacturing. The rollout of the prototype vehicle also reflects progress in areas such as high-voltage module encapsulation and lightweight system integration, which Hongqi said provide a technical foundation for eventual mass production.
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Engineers conducted hundreds of tests to refine design solutions and production processes, addressing challenges including high-pressure integration, the company added. Solid-state batteries are broadly viewed as a next-generation technology capable of delivering driving ranges of up to 1,000 kilometers per charge.
Major battery manufacturers, including CATL and BYD, are targeting small-scale vehicle integration of solid-state batteries around 2027. Automakers have outlined more aggressive timelines. Dongfeng Motor said in November it expects to begin mass production of solid-state batteries capable of delivering a 1,000-kilometer range by September 2026.
