BYD has announced plans to integrate solid-state battery technology into its vehicles by 2027. This was reported by Executive Vice President Stella Li in an interview with Carwow.es, where she also addressed the topic of European expansion and the Denza brand.
Li emphasized that BYD is studying 'any battery technology' as part of its R&D activities and stated its leading position in both commercialization and the technology itself. She specified that next year's model will be the first BYD car equipped with a solid-state battery pack. However, she did not disclose the specific model, battery characteristics, range figures, or the date of mass retail production.
BYD's battery division, FinDreams, is focused on developing a path using a sulfide solid electrolyte, including materials based on lithium phosphate and sulfur chloride. The company discussed prototypes with capacities of 20 Ah and 60 Ah, which are approaching a cell-level density of 400 Wh/kg, although these figures do not guarantee similar performance at the entire power pack level.
Engineering challenges remain before implementation: loss of contact at the solid-solid interface boundary during electrode expansion and contraction, maintaining constant mechanical pressure in the packs, exposure to vibration and thermal cycles in a running vehicle, and the necessity of producing dry electrodes to prevent solvent reactions with sulfides and strict humidity control, as hydrolysis can cause hydrogen sulfide formation.
FinDreams is collaborating with domestic equipment suppliers on dry PTFE fibrillation processes at pilot sites. Furthermore, intellectual property applications demonstrate work on composite cathodes and the sulfide-halide interface.
Previously, FinDreams executives, including Technical Director Sun Huaijuna, pointed to the limited production of sulfide systems and testing in small batches, estimated at around 1,000 vehicles, around 2027. Larger commercial volumes are expected closer to 2030. Initial installations are anticipated on premium platforms such as Yangwang and the flagship Denza before moving to more mass-market BYD models, as the initial cost of solid-state batteries is easier to offset in these segments.
Chief Scientist Liang Yubo previously noted that fully solid-state systems have reached a critical stage, but they still face obstacles, and that liquid lithium-ion and solid-state batteries may coexist for 15–20 years.
As additional information, CATL independently set a goal to begin small-scale production of fully solid-state batteries in 2027, representing a parallel industry timeline rather than a market comparison. This material focuses exclusively on the product and process stages of BYD and FinDreams.
