WELION New Energy's 360Wh/kg Battery Cell Leads the Era of 1,000-Kilometer Driving Range

SMM August 20 ，

News:Core Content: As a leading company in China's solid-state battery sector, WELION New Energy boasts significant technological advantages. Its products, characterized by high energy density, high safety, and long cycle life, meet the demand for high-performance batteries in NEVs, ESS, and power equipment for the low-altitude economy. Technology Path: Innovation is led by an oxide and polymer composite system.

I. WELION New Energy Progress

With the "in-situ solidification" technology from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences at its core, WELION has developed an oxide + polymer composite electrolyte system. It solves the solid-solid interface contact problem through a "liquid injection followed by solidification" process. Its semi-solid-state batteries (hybrid solid-liquid electrolytes) have already been mass-produced, with typical products including:

360Wh/kg power battery cell: Delivered to NIO by the end of 2023, used in 150kWh battery packs, offering a driving range over 1000 kilometers, becoming the world's first mass-produced high-energy-density semi-solid-state battery installed in vehicles.

280Ah ESS cell: Mass production began in H2 2023, supplying storage projects for Three Gorges and SPIC, with a cycle life exceeding 8000 cycles and a thermal runaway initiation temperature more than 40% higher than that of liquid batteries.

320Wh/kg low-altitude economy cell: Already in bulk use in drones and portable power supplies, meeting high-power and high-safety requirements.

Regarding all-solid-state batteries, WELION plans to achieve small-scale demonstration installations by 2027, targeting an energy density of 400Wh/kg. The technical path involves gradually reducing the proportion of liquid electrolyte, allowing polymers to grow in situ and fill the gaps between oxide powders, ultimately achieving full solidification, a process vividly described as going from "half-cooked to fully cooked" like boiling an egg.

II. Capacity Expansion: Four Major Bases Support Large-Scale Implementation

WELION New Energy has established four major industrial bases in Fangshan, Beijing; Liyang, Jiangsu; Huzhou, Zhejiang; and Zibo, Shandong. By 2024, the capacity is expected to reach 7Gwh, with plans to expand to 16Gwh by 2025. Specific layouts include:

Huzhou Base: A vehicle-grade solid-state power battery cell industrialization project, which commenced production in 2022, with phase two groundbreaking in 2023, planning a capacity of 20GWh. Zibo Base: Total investment of 40 billion yuan, with the first phase 20GWh hybrid solid-liquid/all-solid-state battery production line to be put into operation in 2024.

Zhuhai Production Line: The first semi-solid-state ESS battery production line in Guangdong will start operation in March 2025, marking the world's first mass production of 314Ah large-capacity batteries. It is planned to have an annual capacity of 6GWh, focusing on urban user-side ESS scenarios.

III. Industry Chain Synergy: Full-chain Integration from Materials to Equipment

WELION New Energy strengthens supply chain stability through strategic cooperation:

Cathode Material: Cooperating with Huayou Cobalt to develop lithium-rich manganese-based cathode materials, the latter undertaking national-level solid-state battery research projects and providing medium-nickel high-voltage/ultra-high nickel ternary cathode material.

Electrolyte: Signing a procurement agreement with SEMCORP for 2025-2030, securing orders for 300 million m² of electrolyte separator and 100 mt of all-solid-state electrolyte.

Equipment and Process: Collaborating with companies like Tianzhun Technology to develop composite measurement technology, optimizing solid-state battery production equipment; establishing a joint venture with Lianhong New Science to explore new-type polymer electrolytes.

IV. Market Application: Dual-driven by NEVs and ESS

NEVs: Entering the supply chains of automakers such as NIO, Xiaomi, and GAC, with power battery shipments expected to reach about 1.9GWh in 2024, and further growth anticipated in 2025 with expanded production. The cost of its semi-solid-state batteries is already close to that of liquid ternary batteries, with potential for parity pricing through scale effects in the future.

ESS Sector: ESS shipments are expected to reach 1.1GWh in 2024, accounting for 37% of total shipments. Typical projects include the Baimegawatt-hour level grid-side ESS power station in Longquan, Zhejiang, using 280Ah semi-solid-state batteries to achieve intrinsic safety.

Emerging Scenarios: Expanding into areas such as eVTOL low-altitude aircraft and electric vessels, with 320Wh/kg battery cells already validated by leading customers.

V. Policies and R&D: National Projects Endorsing Technological Authority

WELION New Energy undertakes multiple national-level tasks:

Leading the Ministry of Science and Technology’s special project on “High Specific Energy Long-life In-situ Solidified Lithium-ion Power Batteries,” collaborating with nine organizations to tackle the mass production technology of semi-solid-state batteries.

Participating in the formulation of national standards related to solid-state batteries, promoting standardized development within the industry. Supported by the National Development and Reform Commission's "Major Technical Equipment Tackling Project of 2022", it accelerates the R&D of all-solid-state batteries.

VI. WELION New Energy Profile

Beijing WELION New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2016, is a solid-state battery industry-academia-research incubation enterprise of the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Located in Dou Dian, Fangshan District, Beijing, the company mainly engages in the R&D, production, marketing, and sales of solid-state lithium-ion batteries. It is a national-level specialized, refined, unique, and innovative little giant and unicorn enterprise that integrates R&D, production, marketing, and sales. WELION New Energy holds CNAS accreditation, boasts over 40 years of experience in the solid-state battery industry, and has achieved multiple "first" breakthroughs in various solid-state lithium battery technology fields.

Founding Team: The company was co-founded by Academician Li Quan Chen of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Researcher Hong Li of the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Senior Engineer Huigen Yu. The team gathers top talents from the fields of battery materials, battery cells, and systems, providing a solid foundation for the company's technological innovation and product development.

Products and Application Fields: WELION New Energy's products are primarily applied in three major areas: NEVs, ESS, and low-altitude economy power.

The company's typical battery cell products include:

360Wh/kg High Energy Density Power Battery Cell: With ultra-high energy density, it offers a single-charge driving range exceeding 1000km. This product was mass-produced and delivered to NIO by the end of 2023, and has been designated for use by multiple well-known vehicle manufacturers.

280Ah Ultra-Safe ESS Battery Cell: It was mass-produced and delivered in H2 2023, supplying several ESS projects including those of the Three Gorges, HyperStrong, and SPIC.

320Wh/kg High Energy Density Low-Altitude Economy Power Battery Cell: Currently, it supplies numerous domestic and overseas customers in the drone, robotics, and portable power supply sectors.

**Note:** For further details or inquiries regarding solid-state battery development, please contact:
Phone: 021-20707860 (or WeChat: 13585549799)
Contact: Chaoxing Yang. Thank you!