Chinese automaker BYD has asserted that it is at the forefront of commercializing solid-state battery technology for electric vehicles. During a recent interview with Carwow’s Spanish outlet, BYD Executive Vice President Stella Li announced that the company will introduce its first solid-state battery vehicle by 2027.
“We are in the leading position for commercialization and technology,” Li stated. “To prove that, next year, we have one model that will be the first one with that technology.” These remarks reinforce earlier commitments made by Sun Huajun, chief technology officer of BYD’s battery subsidiary FinDreams, who indicated at a February 2025 conference that demonstration and installation of the batteries would occur in 2027, followed by mass production around 2030.
Li specified that BYD’s technology utilizes sulfide-based solid electrolytes. Unlike conventional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes containing dissolved lithium salts, solid-state designs replace this liquid with solid materials such as oxides, polymers, or sulfides. This structural change allows for higher energy density, potentially enabling lighter, more compact batteries with extended driving ranges. Additionally, solid-state batteries offer improved safety profiles and better performance in extreme temperatures compared to their liquid-based predecessors.
Despite these advantages, high manufacturing costs remain a significant barrier. Consequently, BYD Chief Scientist Lian Yubo noted that solid-state batteries will initially be reserved for premium models rather than replacing traditional lithium iron phosphate batteries across the entire lineup. “Solid-state batteries will be mainly used in high-end models, empowering each other with lithium iron phosphate batteries, and used in vehicles of different levels,” Yubo explained.
BYD is part of a growing cohort of manufacturers racing to bring solid-state vehicles to market. Toyota has pledged to offer such models by 2027 or 2028, while Mercedes-Benz is testing a solid-state EQS and plans to ship the technology before the decade ends. Stellantis has also begun road testing a solid-state Dodge Charger, and Honda recently partnered with QuantumScape to advance its own solid-state developments.
While the industry anticipates significant advancements from solid-state technology, most manufacturers remain in the early stages of bringing these batteries to consumers.
Will these premium batteries trickle down to affordable models anytime soon, or will only luxury EVs benefit initially?
I’ll believe it when I see it. Every company claims leadership in solid-state, but manufacturing costs remain a huge hurdle.
Finally, a realistic timeline from a major manufacturer. Sulfide electrolytes could be the game changer for range anxiety.