Old batteries render the burner obsolete - anyone dismissing this truth is stuck in the past
In the world of electric vehicles (EVs), a new generation of battery technologies is poised to make a significant impact. These advancements offer ranges suitable for daily life, short charging times, and durability that easily lasts a car's lifetime, making electric mobility more economically attractive and viable for the masses.
The shift towards these new battery technologies is being led by companies such as Factorial Energy, QuantumScape, Pulsetrain, CATL, BYD, and General Motors, each bringing unique innovations to the table.
Factorial Energy, with backing from Stellantis, is developing solid-state cells that promise ranges over 600 kilometers, charging times under 20 minutes, and functionality at temperatures as low as minus 30 degrees. QuantumScape, a headline leader, offers the promise of ultra-fast charging (minutes rather than hours), higher energy density, and longer cycle life with its solid-state lithium-metal battery technology.
CATL and BYD, two of the largest battery manufacturers globally, are aggressively developing both quasi-solid-state and all-solid-state batteries. CATL’s quasi-solid-state batteries have reached pilot production with energy densities around 300Wh/kg and are moving toward all-solid-state batteries with ambitions for 400Wh/kg by 2027. BYD is partnered with CATL and advancing solid-state cells focusing on high ionic conductivity sulfide electrolytes and cell design for automotive applications.
Pulsetrain, while less publicly known, is reported to be innovating in solid electrolyte materials and manufacturing techniques that could advance SSB commercial viability. The Munich-based startup is developing an integrated battery system that incorporates charging electronics, inverters, and management systems, aiming to slow down cell aging with AI and potentially extend the lifespan by up to 80 percent, with realistic lifetimes of 15 to 18 years.
Sodium-ion batteries, as used by CATL and BYD, have a higher energy density compared to current lithium-ion batteries, enabling cars to have more range or allowing for the use of a smaller battery, significantly reducing vehicle weight. Volkswagen is developing a new separator structure for solid-state cells with startup QuantumScape, aiming for a series battery with twice the energy density of current cells, without cobalt, and with a significantly reduced fire risk.
General Motors and LG Energy Solution are working on a new cell chemistry, the LMR cells, which are cobalt-free, use cheaper materials, and could reduce battery costs per kilowatt-hour by up to $30 while increasing the range to over 600 kilometers.
In China, CATL and BYD have series models on the market using sodium-ion batteries, which dispense with lithium and use affordable, readily available materials. These batteries promise ranges of 500 kilometers and thousands of charging cycles.
The new battery generation is challenging the dominance of lithium-ion batteries in the automotive industry, offering a more sustainable, cheaper, and higher-density alternative. By mid-2025, solid-state battery (SSB) technology is making significant strides, with notable advancements from companies like Factorial Energy, QuantumScape, Pulsetrain, and CATL/BYD contributing to the upcoming battery revolution for EVs and other applications.
With road testing and initial vehicle integration starting in 2025-2026, and broader commercial adoption targeted around 2030, the combined efforts of these companies promise a leap forward in EV battery capability—faster charging, longer range, better safety, and lower cost per kWh—potentially reshaping the electric vehicle market within the next five years.
[1] Factorial Energy [2] QuantumScape [3] Pulsetrain [4] CATL [5] BYD
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- Increasing Trend Downthe Globe: A Growing Number of Individuals Opt for Electric Vehicles Over Long Distances
- China is, unlike the United States, embracing technological progress rather than attempting to restrict it.
- Collaboration announced between Ather Energy and the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) for the enhancement of electric vehicle (EV) production and the advancement of the clean mobility environment.
