Aion's Solid-State Battery Breakthrough: Innovation or Semantics?

In the automotive industry, battery advancement is a big topic of conversation and one of the things that has come up is solid-state batteries. In this field, the company Aion which is a subsidiary company of Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group) claims it has reached a major milestone with its solid-state batteries being ready for mass production. This announcement has raised questions about the true nature of the technology and whether it represents a genuine breakthrough or a clever play on words.

Announcement on Aion’s Solid-State Battery:

On April 9th, GAC Group's Aion brand announced an upcoming reveal of their solid-state battery and stated that it would be made entirely of solid electrolyte. Aion argues that this battery boasts ultra-high energy density, exceptional innate safety, and a wide range of operating temperatures as it moves from lab to market scale manufacturing. This announcement, scheduled for April 12th, suggests a two-year acceleration in the timeline for solid-state battery implementation, previously set for 2026.

Discussion on Solid-State Battery Technology:

Advocates of solid-state batteries claim they can deliver faster charging times, higher energy densities, enhanced safety features and longer life cycles. However, the distinction between semi-solid and true solid-state batteries is crucial. Aion’s previous releases described a battery that could hold more than 350Wh/kg of energy and if this continues unchanged will classify the battery as semi-solid rather than fully solid-state.

The Distortion in Definitions of Solid-State Batteries:

Other carmakers are also grappling with this confusion. In March, Zhiji, another Chinese EV manufacturer was put to task on its solid-state battery technology claims. This argument was ignited after some insiders stated that naming semi-solid batteries solid-state was nothing but a “word game.”

Solid-State Battery Technical Challenges:

Despite the excitement, solid-state batteries face significant technical hurdles. These include battery degradation issues, product safety concerns, and going to market at a cost that is feasible. Toyota, which has been developing solid-state batteries since 2004, have set a target of 2027 for possible deployment, indicating the complexity of the technology.

The Future Prospects for Solid-State Batteries:

Despite the promise of revolutionizing EV technology, there is no clear path to mass adoption for solid-state batteries. Some manufacturers like QuantumScape, Toyota and Solid Power are targeting limited production in 2025-2028 with global commercial capacity expected by 2030. Despite this, industry insiders such as Zeng Yuqun, the CATL Chairman argue that solid-state batteries are not yet commercially viable due to some unresolved scientific and technical challenges.

Summary:

Aion’s recent announcement about a solid-state battery has sparked off a discussion about the current state of battery technology and what naming things means. As the industry aims for batteries with higher energy density, quicker charging and be safer to use, distinguishing between semi-solid batteries and solid-state batteries becomes crucial. However, the promise of solid-state batteries is obvious, but their period before commercialization is still disputed with some experts calling for a prudent pace in their development.