China’s leading car exporter Chery plans to release its first electric vehicle powered by a solid-state battery in 2026, potentially putting it ahead of global rivals such as Toyota, which has targeted 2027 for similar technology. The company says it has developed a production-ready solid-state battery with an energy density of up to 600 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg).
Chery said the battery uses oxide-based cells combined with a novel polymer electrolyte, allowing it to exceed by about 20% what has previously been viewed as the theoretical maximum for commercial solid-state batteries. Other companies, including China’s WeLion, have announced higher-density designs, but these remain at the engineering verification stage, according to the automaker.
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The first vehicle to use the technology will be a 2026 Exeed ES8 shooting brake, known as Liefeng, which Chery says will deliver a range of up to 1,500 kilometres on a single charge under China’s CLTC testing cycle. “The first 2026 Chery EV with all-solid-state battery will be the powerful Exeed ES8 shooting brake dubbed Liefeng,” the company said.
Chery added that the higher energy density allows much greater capacity within the same battery footprint used by its current electric vehicles, enabling both long range and high performance. The automaker said the model will feature an 800-volt powertrain and high-speed motors, allowing acceleration from zero to 100 km/h in under three seconds.
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Beyond range, Chery said the solid-state cells support ultra-fast charging and maintain performance in extreme cold, down to minus 30 degrees Celsius. If delivered on schedule, the launch would make Chery one of the first automakers to commercialise solid-state batteries, as competitors such as Toyota, Samsung and CATL continue to target later timelines.
Source CNC