Huawei Technologies has just announced an important patent in the field of solid-state batteries.
Huawei has announced a patent for a solid-state battery using nitrogen-doped sulfide, promising to triple the energy density, fully charge in 5 minutes. This technology could open a new era for electric vehicles if it overcomes the barriers to commercialization.
Huawei Technologies has just announced an important patent in the field of solid-state batteries, using nitrogen-doped sulfide electrolyte, a step that is considered a breakthrough for the electric vehicle industry. The new technology promises 2-3 times higher energy density than traditional lithium-ion batteries, providing a range of up to 3,000 km and a full charge time of just 5 minutes.
Doping nitrogen into the sulfide electrolyte helps to limit side reactions on the lithium surface and improve electrochemical stability, which has been a bottleneck in the commercialization of sulfide-based solid-state batteries.
Huawei says the technology not only improves performance, but also increases safety and battery life, two core factors for bringing the product to the large-scale market.
Although Huawei's technology impresses with its outstanding parameters, experts are still cautious when assessing the potential for practical applications.
The range of 3,000 km and 5-minute charging is still considered a theoretical figure, as the charging station infrastructure is not ready, while the cost of deploying the new battery is still very high. However, the event reflects an increasingly clear strategy in China, where technology and auto groups are trying to reduce their dependence on traditional battery suppliers such as CATL or BYD. Instead, they are pushing for vertical integration to master the supply of batteries, components that account for more than 50% of the cost of producing electric vehicles.
Huawei's entry into the high-tech battery manufacturing sector is seen as a factor that puts great pressure on competitors in Japan and South Korea. Many major newspapers in these two countries have warned about China's strong rise in the field of solid-state batteries - a technology expected to shape the future of electric vehicles.
Toyota made a splash in 2023 when it introduced a solid-state battery prototype with a range of 1,200 km and a charging time of 10 minutes. However, despite plans to commercialize it in the next five years, Toyota's technology seems to be far behind China in terms of development speed and patent registration.
According to CarNewsChina, Chinese companies own 36.7% of all global solid-state battery patents, with more than 7,600 applications filed each year. Not only focusing on research and development, they are also accelerating the commercialization process with a series of pilot production projects that have been launched.
The world's largest battery manufacturer, CATL, has confirmed trial plans to produce hybrid solid-state batteries in 2027. Meanwhile, Going High-Tech's Jinshi battery with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg has begun small-scale production. Beijing-based WeLion has also launched a 50Ah solid-state battery and obtained national certification.
Despite still facing many challenges, especially production costs and a lack of suitable charging infrastructure, solid-state battery technology is expected to completely change the global electric vehicle industry. If it overcomes current barriers, high-performance batteries like those from Huawei or CATL can eliminate range limitations, shorten charging times, and help manufacturers become self-sufficient in supply, opening a new era for global electric vehicles.