Report: China commissions its first solid-state battery production line

A Chinese startup commissioned a production line of solid-state batteries in the city of Kunshan, in east China's Jiangsu province, on Monday November 19, Xinhuanet.com reported on Tuesday November 20.

Solid-state batteries are thought to be a lot safer than common lithium-ion cells and have more potential for higher energy density.

Called Qing Tao Energy Development Co, the startup is led by Nan Cewen, a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and a professor at Tsinghua University has deployed the first solid-state battery production line in the country.

With total investment of 1 billion yuan, the production line is said to be capable of producing 0.1 GWh solid-state batteries per year, which have an energy density of over 400 Wh/kg.

The company said that it has engaged with a number of large automobile manufacturers to produce batteries for electric vehicles by 2020, when the company's annual production capacity is expected to reach 0.7 GWh.