Tokyo and Beijing go head-to-head in the solid-state battery race

Battery development Tokyo and Beijing go head-to-head in the solid-state battery race

2025-02-12 From Henrik Bork* | Translated by AI 3 min Reading Time

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China and Japan are engaged in an exciting race in the development of solid-state batteries. A lot of money is being invested in the new technology in both countries. And there is now remarkable progress to report from both countries. The question now is: who will come out on top in the end?

Japan and China are in a hot neck-and-neck race to see who will be the first to commercialize solid-state batteries. It seems that Japan is one step ahead, as Honda presented its demonstration production line for solid-state cells in Sakura last year.(Image: Honda) — Japan and China are in a hot neck-and-neck race to see who will be the first to commercialize solid-state batteries. It seems that Japan is one step ahead, as Honda presented its demonstration production line for solid-state cells in Sakura last year.
(Image: Honda)

Solid-state batteries are seen as the next "game changer" for electromobility because, thanks to their higher energy density, they are much more powerful and at the same time safer than the lithium-ion batteries commonly used today. The range of electric vehicles can thus be multiplied and their charging time reduced to just a few minutes. Some future technologies, such as the "low altitude economy" with battery-powered drones that is now being heavily promoted in China, will probably only become realistic with solid-state batteries.

New solid-state electrolyte developed in China

In solid-state batteries, the liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid, usually in powder form. One technical hurdle here is that contact between the electrolyte and cathode is reduced in the case of solid materials because they cannot spread as freely in any space as the liquid material.

A team of materials scientists at Peking University has now worked on a new solid-state electrolyte that facilitates the "slow reactions of the solid-solid two-phase interface", as they write in an article in the scientific journal Nature. The team led by Pang Quanquan has developed the prototype of an all-solid-state lithium-sulphur battery (ASSLSB) in which the slow redox reactions could be greatly accelerated with the help of a new material and a new method.

In the article in Nature, the invention is called "lithium thioborophosphate idodide (LBPSI) glass-phase solid electrolytes (GSEs)". According to the Chinese scientists, this could "significantly increase the energy density of the active zones".

The result is an "ultra-fast charging capability" coupled with very high cycle stability. Even after 25,000 charging cycles, the storage capacity of this new solid-state battery is still 80.2 percent (at 5°C and 25 °C / 41°F and 77°F). This research success could have a major impact on various categories of products in the future—as soon as series production of such solid-state batteries becomes possible—such as the next generation of power batteries in electric vehicles, manned and unmanned aerial drones and also high-quality batteries for electronics, according to Chinese trade media.

Will Honda produce small series at the beginning of 2025?

Meanwhile in Japan, car manufacturer Honda has caused a stir among experts with the announcement that it intends to start the first series production of a solid-state battery at the beginning of this year. In November, Honda unveiled a "production line for demonstration purposes" in Sakura City in Tochigi Prefecture, in which solid-state batteries based on lithium-sulphur technology are also to be manufactured in small series from January 2025—in order to verify the corresponding processes, as the company explained.

Honda showed a first battery cell prototype at the opening, but emphasized that this would not be the final product.(Image: Honda) — Honda showed a first battery cell prototype at the opening, but emphasized that this would not be the final product.
(Image: Honda)

This news went around the world, as no one had yet made it to series production with solid-state batteries. "Toyota has started the solid-state revolution, but Honda could complete it," commented the automotive trade portal Topspeed.com. A milestone has been reached for both Honda and Japan, said one of the car manufacturer's managers proudly.

Support measures for the commercialization of solid-state batteries

Like the Chinese government, the Japanese government has high hopes of becoming the technology leader in solid-state batteries and spent the equivalent of EUR 637 million (approx. USD 661 million) on promoting corresponding projects last year.

METI, the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, has also drawn up a detailed plan according to which the commercialization of solid-state batteries is to begin in Japan from 2030. Partly due to this government support, Japan currently leads the world in patent applications for the development of all-solid-state batteries (ASSB).

According to a report by TrendForce, 36% of all relevant patents recently came from Japan. China followed with 27% and South Korea with 18%. The USA and Germany ranked at the bottom with 11% and 4% respectively.

Competition boosts business

However, Japan's hopes of leading the way globally in the commercialization of the new battery technology will not automatically come true. In addition to its very active material scientists, China is also supported by the Beijing government's recently announced support for the "low altitude economy" with cargo and passenger drones, which will result in high demand for solid-state batteries and thus potential scaling in their production. (se)

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Date: 08.12.2025

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*Henrik Bork, Founder and General Manager of AsiaWaypoint, Beijing, P.R. China