CATL has progressed its all-solid-state battery programme from a 10 Ah-class validation platform to trials using 20 Ah samples, according to a report cited by CarNewsChina. The company is aiming for small-batch production in 2027 and larger-scale manufacturing around 2030. It provided an update on October 27 in response to investor questions on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange’s Hudongyi platform. CATL said more than 1,000 people are working on the programme, which has a target energy density of about 500 Wh/kg. That figure is a development goal, not a confirmed production-cell specification; CATL has not announced trial volumes, automotive customers or a vehicle launch date tied to the cells.
The article notes that the cells must demonstrate more than energy density before they can be considered for vehicle production. The company still needs to address durability, safety, cost, manufacturing yield and performance in operating conditions. Sulfide-based electrolytes can conduct lithium ions effectively, but keeping solid interfaces stable as electrodes expand and contract is difficult. Sulfide materials also need moisture protection because reactions can produce toxic hydrogen sulfide. CATL has not revealed the anode design behind its reported energy-density target.
CATL’s production goals sit alongside different timelines from other developers: Toyota and Idemitsu are aiming to commercialise sulfide-based batteries for EVs between 2027 and 2028, while Samsung SDI has targeted mass production in the second half of 2027. The milestones do not imply matching volumes or readiness. The article also distinguishes all-solid-state cells, which use a solid electrolyte, from semi-solid or hybrid designs that retain some liquid electrolyte. CATL’s central task is to turn development samples into dependable, affordable products at scale.