BYD says its first vehicle powered by a solid-state battery will arrive in 2027, a step the Chinese automaker contends puts it ahead of rivals working on the same technology. Executive Vice President Stella Li said in an interview with Carwow's Spanish outlet that BYD holds a leading position in both the commercialization and the technology itself. She pointed to the planned 2027 model as evidence of that claim. Solid-state batteries are widely expected to extend electric vehicle range and reduce charging times.
The 2027 target is consistent with earlier statements from Sun Huajun, chief technology officer of BYD's battery subsidiary FinDreams. Speaking at a battery conference in February 2025, Sun said the company would demonstrate and install solid-state batteries in 2027, with mass production following around 2030. BYD's chief scientist, Lian Yubo, said at the same conference that solid-state batteries would not replace the company's existing lithium batteries. He said they would be used mainly in high-end models, working alongside lithium iron phosphate batteries across different vehicle classes.
The technology differs from the lithium-ion packs used in most electric vehicles today, which move ions between positive and negative terminals through a liquid solution of dissolved lithium salts. Solid-state batteries swap that liquid for solid electrolytes made from oxides, polymers or sulfides, the type BYD is developing. The solid material allows for higher energy density, which could translate into smaller, lighter batteries and more range on a single charge. Solid-state designs are also theoretically safer, since they are far less prone to catching fire, and they can operate at extreme temperatures that challenge current lithium-ion batteries.
Cost remains the main obstacle to wider use, which is why BYD expects the technology to appear first in more expensive models, possibly including a future version of its Denza Z. For US consumers, that suggests solid-state vehicles will reach the market as premium offerings before any broader adoption.
BYD is not alone in pursuing the technology. Toyota has committed to offering cars with solid-state batteries by 2027 or 2028, Mercedes-Benz has begun testing a solid-state EQS model and says it will ship the technology before the end of the decade, and Stellantis began road testing a solid-state Dodge Charger in 2026. Honda formed a partnership with QuantumScape to develop solid-state batteries it hopes will help it reach carbon neutrality by 2050. While the potential is significant, most automakers remain in the early stages of the effort.
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