Solid-State Battery Developments: Key Updates and Trends for 2026

Solid-State Batteries: Latest News Updates

China Silicon Corporation: The company has shipped nearly 50 tons of solid-state battery materials as of January 21, 2026. They stated, “We collaborate with leading domestic and international clients in the solid-state battery sector, and our current shipment of solid-state battery materials is approaching 50 tons.”

Looking Ahead to 2026: Yang Hongxin from Honeycomb Energy predicts six new trends in the power battery market. The new generation of batteries, such as the DHP 2.0, will enable 6C charging, allowing household electric vehicles to benefit from lower energy consumption and ultra-fast charging experiences.

Trend 3: The emergence of low-cost, mass-producible semi-solid state batteries (liquid-solid batteries) will lead to their widespread adoption in vehicles. Currently, almost all automotive manufacturers and battery companies are involved in this shift.

Countdown to Launch: A123 Systems will unveil its first series of semi-solid immersion energy storage products on January 23, 2026, at 19:00. The launch event will be themed “Gathering the Stars, Storing the Future.”

South Korean Battery Manufacturers: Facing a significant setback, over 130 billion yuan worth of orders have been canceled. According to the latest data from SNE Research, global power battery installation reached 1,046 GWh from January to November 2025, marking a 32.6% year-on-year increase, with lithium iron phosphate batteries leading the installations.

Lithium Exports: Exports of lithium batteries are expected to grow by 26.2% in 2025, with energy storage batteries experiencing the fastest growth. The Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration have announced changes in export tax rebate rates for various battery categories, effective April 1, 2026.

Lithium Prices Surge: The price of lithium has exceeded 170,000 yuan per ton, prompting interest in sodium batteries as a potential alternative. The recent rise in lithium prices has created a significant impact on the competitive landscape between lithium and sodium batteries, marking a critical juncture in their cost dynamics.

Recent Developments: Wanrun and Tianci have provided updates on their pilot production line for lithium sulfide materials used in solid-state batteries, with significant progress reported on January 13, 2026.

Solid-State Battery Validation: This year, the validation scale for solid-state batteries could reach thousands of vehicles, as signals for industrialization in this sector become more pronounced.

Global Expansion of Battery Companies: Chinese electrolyte manufacturers are accelerating their overseas expansion. Recent policy changes will reduce the VAT export rebate rate for battery products from 9% to 6% starting April 1, 2026.

Energy Storage Demand: In 2025, the demand for energy storage batteries is projected to surge, with Chinese companies signing contracts surpassing 510 GWh. Continuous innovation and collaboration are essential for maintaining competitiveness in the international market.

Production Initiatives: Yili Technology has launched a mass production line for high-nickel ternary cathode materials for solid-state batteries, marking a significant step from laboratory development to industrial production.

Investment in Energy Storage and AI: Haopeng Technology has announced plans to raise up to 800 million yuan for projects related to energy storage and AI-powered battery products.

2025 Electric Vehicle Performance: As automakers finalize their electric vehicle strategies, the competition for power battery supplies is expected to intensify in 2026.

Material Advancements: Significant progress is being made in the industrialization of high-energy-density battery materials, particularly for liquid, semi-solid, and solid-state batteries.

Innovation in New Energy: New Energy’s battery solutions continue to attract attention, especially in the two-wheeler and energy storage sectors, with a notable increase in demand for high-performance batteries.

Battery Industry Outlook: As the 14th Five-Year Plan begins, the demand for batteries is anticipated to explode, significantly impacting the industry.

Solid-State Batteries in eVTOL Applications: Solid-state batteries are seen as key to the commercialization of electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, with new high-energy density battery products being developed for this purpose.

Happy New Year 2026: As we enter 2026, the industry is poised for continued growth, with solid-state batteries moving from concept to widespread validation and mass production.