Researchers and companies are advancing solid-state batteries, which promise safer, longer-range electric vehicles with faster charging. Prototypes could appear in vehicles by 2027, with commercialization targeted for 2030. Manufacturing challenges remain the primary hurdle despite breakthroughs in superionic materials.
Solid-state batteries represent a next-generation technology for electric vehicles (EVs), designed to be lighter, more compact, and safer than current lithium-ion batteries by replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid ones. These batteries could enable EVs to travel 400 to 600 miles on a single charge and recharge in minutes, addressing range anxiety and charging times that currently take half an hour or more.
The feasibility of solid-state batteries has been demonstrated in labs worldwide, but scaling production at acceptable costs is the key challenge. 'If you look at what people are putting out as a road map from industry, they say they are going to try for actual prototype solid-state battery demonstrations in their vehicles by 2027 and try to do large-scale commercialization by 2030,' says Jun Liu, a materials scientist at the University of Washington.
Breakthroughs in superionic materials, discovered over the past two decades, allow lithium ions to conduct as fast as in liquid electrolytes, or faster. These materials enable higher energy density, potentially using lithium-metal anodes that store 10 times more energy per gram than graphite anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Such anodes avoid issues like dendrite formation, which can cause short circuits or fires in liquid-based systems.
Lithium-ion batteries, optimized over 30 years, now cost $115 per kilowatt-hour as of April 2025, down from $7,500 in 1991, with projections to $80 by 2030. They power most EVs today, with fire rates of about 25 per 100,000 vehicles sold—far lower than 1,500 for gasoline cars. However, performance plateaus in charging speed and energy density create opportunities for solid-state tech.
Investments in solid-state development reach billions globally, with partnerships involving Toyota, Volkswagen, and startups like QuantumScape. Sulfide electrolytes, sensitive to humidity and potentially toxic if ruptured, are early contenders for integration into existing manufacturing lines. Oxide alternatives offer stability but require specialized handling due to brittleness.
'Every automotive company has said solid-state batteries are the future,' notes Eric Wachsman of the University of Maryland. Early adoption may target high-performance applications like EVs, drones, and electrified aviation, where higher energy, power, and safety are critical. China dominates 70% of lithium-ion production, making solid-state a strategic opportunity for other nations.