When it comes to electric mobility, there is never a shortage of promises. But that of Chery, the Chinese automotive giant, really deserves attention: a solid-state battery with an energy density of 600 Wh/kg, capable of pushing an electric car up to 1300 real kilometers on a single charge. In theory, in perfect conditions, it would even reach 1500 km, but even “only” 1300 is more than enough to make current lithium ion batteries pale in comparison.
It all comes from the work of the Chery Solid State Battery Research Institute, which developed a cell based on a solid electrolyte polymerized in situ, combined with a manganese-lithium cathode. A formula which, when put that way, seems like a laboratory spell, but in reality contains the secret of its power: more energy, less risk and greater thermal stability.
In other words, this new battery is lighter, safer and — potentially — set to change the electric car industry forever.
Safety, stability and double autonomy
It’s no longer enough to say “long range”: today we need reliability, and Chery knows this well. Its new battery not only doubles the autonomy compared to a traditional one, but also passes even the toughest tests with ease. During internal tests, the cell was pierced with nails, subjected to extreme thermal stresses and even mechanically deformed, with satisfactory results: no fire, no explosion, no smoke.
The difference lies entirely in the solid electrolyte, which replaces the flammable liquid typical of lithium ion cells. Therefore, in case of damage, chain reactions are not triggered. And it’s no small detail, if we think about how many times videos of electric cars on fire have been seen.
Chery, in short, is aiming for a winning combination of technology and safety, and wants to arrive on the market as early as 2026. The company has invested huge resources in research and development, and the objective is clear: to beat competitors of the caliber of BYD, CATL and Toyota, who are working on similar projects.
The obstacle (for now) is called price
Of course, there is a “but”. The production cost of a Chery solid-state battery is still 2.8 times higher than that of a classic lithium-ion battery. The reason is simple: the materials are complex and the production chains are still limited. But it is an obligatory step in every technological innovation: the same was true for the first smartphones or solar panels, now within everyone’s reach.
And considering that Chery ended 2025 with a 26% increase in exports, with more than 137,600 cars delivered in September alone, it doesn’t seem like the kind of company ready to give up.
A race against time (and against the giants of the sector)
The goal is ambitious, but the direction is the right one. Researchers at Tsinghua University in Beijing also announced that they had achieved a density of 604 Wh/kg, with cells capable of resisting up to 120°C. A sign that the solid state revolution is no longer a hypothesis, but a race that has already begun.
And if there is a clear message behind this new battery, it is that the electric car of the future will not only be greener: it will also be lighter, safer and infinitely more autonomous.
In other words, less charging anxiety and more freedom of movement.
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