FAW Unveils 1,000 km Range Semi-Solid-State EV Battery

Chinese automaker FAW Group announced a major breakthrough in electric vehicle battery technology this month, unveiling a semi-solid-state battery that enables a production Hongqi crossover to achieve more than 1,000 kilometers of range on a single charge. The development, revealed on February 10, highlights accelerating global efforts to enhance EV performance amid a competitive market where traditional lithium-ion batteries are giving way to advanced chemistries.

The battery, a lithium-rich manganese semi-solid-state design, features an energy density exceeding 500 watt-hours per kilogram at the cell level, roughly double that of conventional lithium-ion cells. With a total pack capacity of 142 kilowatt-hours, it delivers an estimated 1,000 kilometers under China's CLTC testing cycle, according to FAW. The company, one of China's largest automakers with partnerships including Volkswagen and Toyota, integrated the battery into a Hongqi-branded electric crossover already in production. While real-world ranges on standards like the EPA cycle would likely be lower, factoring in vehicle efficiency, aerodynamics and driving conditions, the achievement underscores a shift toward...