China solicits public opinion on first national standard for solid-state EV batteries

Shanghai (Gasgoo)- China has launched a public consultation on its first national standard dedicated to solid-state batteries for electric vehicles, marking a milestone in the country's battery standardization efforts. The draft standard, released on December 30, focuses on establishing unified terminology, classification frameworks, and coding rules for solid-state batteries used in EVs.

Under the draft, batteries are classified based on how ions are transported within the cell, with three categories defined: liquid batteries, hybrid solid–liquid batteries, and solid-state batteries. The industry's commonly used term "semi-solid-state battery" has been removed. The proposal further refines solid-state batteries across multiple dimensions, including the type of solid electrolyte—such as sulfide, oxide, polymer, halide, or composite systems—the type of conducting ion, including lithium-ion and sodium-ion variants, and application focus, distinguishing between high-energy and high-power solid-state batteries.

The draft also introduces clearer technical criteria for defining solid-state batteries. One key requirement sets the allowable weight-loss rate at no more than 0.5%, a tighter threshold than the sub-1% limit specified in an industry group standard issued by the China Society of Automotive Engineers earlier this year. The drafting team notes that while solid-state batteries are theoretically free of liquid electrolytes, certain technical approaches may still experience minor weight loss during high-temperature testing due to material decomposition. Industry validation data indicate that current solid-state battery products already meet the stricter benchmark, supporting the proposed limit.

The document under consultation represents the first installment of a broader national standard series on solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. The full framework is expected to span four parts, covering terminology and classification, performance requirements, safety specifications, and durability standards. In parallel, work has begun on a separate technical standard for solid electrolytes used in EV solid-state batteries, signaling steady progress toward a more comprehensive regulatory system.

By advancing this national standard, regulators aim to provide a common reference point for technology development, product certification, and commercialization of solid-state batteries in electric vehicles. Feedback gathered during the public consultation phase is expected to play a key role in shaping the final version, supporting more orderly and coordinated growth across the industry value chain.