Chery claims world's first GWh-scale Solid-State Battery production line

KUALA LUMPUR:  Chery has announced its status as the world’s first company to establish a GWh-scale solid-state battery production line.

This milestone project is located in the Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone in Anhui Province, marking a significant leap forward in new energy technology.

On November 18, key equipment for the plant was delivered to the site, according to a report by Anhui Daily.

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The initial phase of the project spans 100,000 square meters and is a collaborative effort between Anhui Anwa New Energy Co., Ltd. and the Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Anhui Anwa, founded in 2020, operates as a subsidiary controlled by Chery Holdings, with international backing from GPSC (Thailand), Azeba (Japan), and Gotion Hi-Tech.

The facility will house a research and development center for solid-state batteries with a production capacity of 5GWh. It will also feature a fully integrated automated production line, designed to set a new benchmark in battery manufacturing.

The first production line, with a design capacity of 1.25GWh, is expected to commence operations in the coming months.

This might sound like gibberish to some but this is what it basically is. Imagine this facility is like a big kitchen for making super high-tech batteries.

Instead of regular batteries, they're making a new kind called solid-state batteries—think of them as the "next-level" batteries that are safer, more powerful, and better for the environment.

Now, this kitchen also has a research lab attached, where "chefs" (scientists) experiment to make these batteries even better. And it’s not just for testing; this place can churn out a LOT of these batteries—enough to power a massive number of electric vehicles. How much? About 5 gigawatt-hours worth.

To give you an idea, that's enough energy to power 50,000 electric cars, assuming each car has a 100 kWh battery. 

Speaking on the advancements, Gao Lixin, General Manager of Anhui Anwa New Energy Technology, highlighted the advantages of solid-state batteries over traditional ones. “Solid-state batteries offer significant benefits, including enhanced safety, environmental friendliness, and greatly improved energy density,” he stated.

The plant’s first-generation batteries will achieve an energy density of over 280Wh/kg. The second generation, slated for release in 2025, aims to surpass 400Wh/kg, while a third generation is projected for 2027, targeting an energy density of 500Wh/kg.

Right now, most electric car batteries carry about 150-250Wh/kg—so imagine their "backpacks" are medium-sized. Now, this plant's first-gen batteries will have 280Wh/kg, meaning a slightly bigger backpack that lets your car go further.

By 2025, they'll have 400Wh/kg, which is like upgrading to a huge backpack—way more range without adding extra weight. And by 2027, they'll hit 500Wh/kg—a super backpack that’s even lighter and more powerful, letting you drive much farther or making the car lighter and more efficient.

In short: more energy in the same space means fewer stops to charge, longer road trips, and possibly cheaper electric cars because they won't need as many heavy batteries. 

Notably, the manufacturing process for these batteries has been streamlined. Anwa has reduced the steps involved from 11 to just 5, eliminating processes like baking, compacting, cutting, drying, and liquid injection. The electrodes are manufactured using a dry process, significantly cutting costs and energy usage.

This innovative approach results in a 30% reduction in fixed asset investment and a 20% decrease in energy consumption for production.

Chery and Anhui Anwa’s efforts not only reinforce their position in the new energy battery market but also underscore their commitment to sustainability.

By delivering denser and more efficient solid-state batteries, this initiative has the potential to reshape the global electric vehicle technology landscape.

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