BYD plans to launch its first electric vehicle equipped with a solid-state battery in 2027.

On Sept. 14 (local time), EV outlet Electrek reported that Stella Li (스텔라 리), BYD’s executive vice president, made the comment in an interview about expanding in the Spanish market and launching its premium brand Denza in Europe. Li said BYD is in a "leading position" in developing solid-state battery technology and preparing for commercialisation, and it will prove this with the first model to use the technology in 2027. The vehicle will be BYD’s first EV fitted with a solid-state battery.

BYD is researching several next-generation battery technologies at the same time, including solid-state batteries. Li said, "No matter what battery technology you talk about, I can assure you that somewhere within BYD’s R&D organisation, we are researching that technology." He said BYD’s battery R&D capabilities are very strong and that it is researching not only battery chemistry but also manufacturing processes and equipment needed for mass production.

Still, applying the technology to its first EV in 2027 does not mean mass production will begin immediately. FinDreams, BYD’s battery unit, aims to produce sulphide-based solid-state batteries in limited quantities in 2027 and expand to a mass production system by 2030. As a result, the vehicle launched in 2027 is likely to be an early application of next-generation battery technology.

BYD also sees tasks remaining before solid-state batteries can be commercialised. Lian Yubo (리안위보), chief scientist at BYD Group, said in April that solid-state EV batteries had entered an "important stage," but that obstacles still needed to be resolved before commercialisation.

The initial models are likely to be under BYD’s premium brands. Denza, Yangwang and Fangchengbao are expected to adopt solid-state batteries first before expanding to mass-market models with higher sales volumes.

Separately from its solid-state battery development, BYD is also boosting charging speeds for existing batteries. The Denza Z9 GT is being sold in Europe highlighting a five-minute "flash charging" technology. BYD explained that applying its Blade Battery 2.0 and flash charging technology can charge the battery from 10 percent to 70 percent in five minutes, and from 20 percent to 97 percent in nine minutes. BYD is also offering Denza buyers six months of free charging to promote its charging technology in the premium EV market.

Competition in solid-state batteries is not limited to BYD. China’s Geely, Changan Automobile and CATL are targeting 2027, while Toyota, Stellantis and Mercedes are also citing a similar timeframe. Still, full commercialisation of solid-state batteries is expected around 2029 or 2030.

Some companies have already begun real-world driving tests of solid-state batteries. Mercedes drove 1,200 km last autumn in a modified EQS fitted with solid-state battery cells from Factorial Energy.