China has established its first national standard for solid-state electric vehicle batteries, marking a significant step toward commercializing this highly anticipated technology.

Solidifying China's Automotive Leadership

China's dominance in the global automotive sector is increasingly tied to its leadership in electrification. The country is projected to surpass Japan in total vehicle sales for the first time in 2025. To maintain this edge, domestic giants like BYD and CATL are aggressively pursuing next-generation battery technologies, including solid-state, LFP, sodium-ion, and ultra-fast charging systems.

The recent introduction of a national standard for solid-state batteries underscores China's concerted push to bring this promising technology to market. The draft standard, titled "Solid-State Battery for Electric Vehicle – Part 1: Terms and Classification," was released by China's National Automotive Standardization Technical Committee and is now open for public consultation.

Clarifying Definitions and Classifications

The primary goal of the draft is to provide clear categorization and definitions for solid-state batteries. It classifies batteries into three types based on ion movement within the cell: liquid, hybrid solid-liquid, and solid-state. Notably, the omission of a "semi-solid-state" category—a term previously used by several domestic brands—suggests this classification will be phased out.

The standard further breaks down solid-state batteries by key parameters:

· Electrolyte type: Sulfide, oxide, composite, polymer, or halide.

· Conducting ion: Lithium or sodium.

· Performance orientation: High-energy or high-power.

A stringent technical requirement is also introduced: to qualify as a solid-state battery, the allowable weight-loss rate is set at no more than 0.5%. This criterion is stricter than the 1% benchmark proposed earlier this year by the China Society of Automotive Engineers.

Paving the Way for Commercialization

China is pioneering this effort as the first country to propose a national standard for solid-state EV batteries. This draft represents the first of a planned four-part series, signaling a structured approach to guiding the technology toward mass production.

While CATL and BYD already collectively command over half of the global EV battery market, both are investing heavily in future tech. Their roadmap targets small-scale production of solid-state batteries around 2027, with full mass production expected by the end of the decade.