BYD plans solid-state battery vehicle for 2027
NZ Autocar
BYD intends to put its solid-state battery technology into a working vehicle during 2027, although buyers shouldn’t expect to see it in showrooms just yet.
Executive vice-president Stella Li confirmed the plan during an interview with Carwow.es in Valencia, Spain. However, she stopped short of naming the vehicle or providing a launch date, technical specifications or production target.
“Any battery technology, I guarantee you will find it in one corner of BYD R&D; we are studying that,” Li said. “So, talking about solid-state battery, BYD is in the leading position; we’re in the leading position for the commercial line, and for the technology. So to prove that, even next year we will have one model that will be the first model with this technology there.”
That wording suggests the 2027 vehicle will be a technology demonstrator rather than a showroom-ready production model. Even so, installing the battery in a functioning car would represent an important step beyond laboratory testing.
BYD’s FinDreams battery division is developing an inorganic sulphide solid electrolyte using materials including lithium phosphorus sulphur chlorine. The company has previously revealed 20Ah and 60Ah prototype cells targeting an energy density approaching 400Wh/kg.
That is considerably more than current lithium-ion cells, but cell-level figures don’t necessarily translate directly into the same performance at pack level. Packaging, temperature control, crash protection and the equipment required to maintain pressure between solid components can all add weight and complexity.
FinDreams is investigating dry-electrode manufacturing processes, which avoid solvents that can react with sulphide electrolytes. It is also working with Chinese equipment suppliers to develop the machinery needed for pilot production.
The longer-term timetable remains more conservative than Li’s 2027 demonstration target. FinDreams chief technology officer Sun Huajun has previously outlined plans for small-batch trials involving around 1000 vehicles from approximately 2027, followed by large-scale commercial production around 2030.
Early examples are expected to appear in expensive vehicles from BYD’s Yangwang and Denza brands, where the higher cost of new battery technology will be easier to absorb. Specialised sulphide materials currently cost many times more than those used in conventional liquid-electrolyte batteries.
BYD isn’t alone in chasing the technology. Toyota and Idemitsu Kosan are targeting a 2027–2028 market introduction, while Samsung SDI plans to begin mass production of all-solid-state batteries in 2027.
BYD chief scientist Lian Yubo has also cautioned against expecting an overnight change, predicting that conventional lithium-ion and solid-state batteries could coexist for another 15 to 20 years.
The 2027 vehicle should provide the first indication of whether BYD can make its solid-state technology work reliably beyond the laboratory. Turning it into an affordable, mass-produced battery will be the much tougher job.
