The "holy grail" of battery technology has officially entered the commercialization phase. This week marked a historic milestone with the launch of China’s first dedicated solid-state battery mass production base by Heyuan Lithium Innovation. This report analyzes the rapid industrial scaling of solid-state technologies, examining the "Liuhe Battery" specifications, the diverging technical roadmaps (oxide vs. sulfide), and the aggressive capacity expansions planned by players like Sanwei, Canmax, and LiPure Energy for 2026 and beyond.
The narrative surrounding solid-state batteries (SSBs) has shifted abruptly from R&D potential to commercial reality. The headline development of the week is the official commencement of operations at Heyuan Lithium Innovation's Huai'an base, China’s first facility dedicated purely to the mass production of solid-state batteries.
The operational launch of the 10 GWh Huai'an base signals that the supply chain is maturing faster than many western analysts predicted. Heyuan’s "Liuhe Battery" utilizes an oxide electrolyte pathway to achieve energy densities between 250–600 Wh/kg. Crucially, these are not just prototype specs; the company has commenced deliveries to strategic customers in the unmanned vehicle and drone sectors, such as Jiushi Intelligent.
The product matrix reveals a strategic segmentation of the SSB market:
Light-duty Power: 250–300 Wh/kg with a high cycle life (1,500 cycles).
Automotive Grade: 360 Wh/kg targeting 1,000 cycles.
Aviation/Drone: High discharge rates (15C) and wide temperature tolerance (-20 to 55°C).
While Heyuan is proving the oxide route, the market is seeing simultaneous advancements across other chemistries, creating a diverse technology landscape for 2026.
Polymer & Silicon Anodes: Startup LiPure Energy is advancing a polymer + silicon carbon anode route. Their 1 GWh project in Jiangxi is currently in the environmental assessment stage, targeting e-bike swapping and ESS scenarios rather than immediate automotive adoption.
The Sulfide Chain: Canmax is aggressively pushing the sulfide electrolyte route combined with high-nickel cathodes, aiming for 15,000 mt of material capacity by 2026. Similarly, EVE Energy is developing a sulfide + halide composite system, with a 350 Wh/kg product slated for 2026 launch and a pilot line construction expected to finish this year.
The race for scale is capital-intensive. Sanwei Battery has signed projects totaling over 3.2 billion yuan (approx. $440M) to build 4 GWh of capacity across multiple sites. Meanwhile, Heyuan is already constructing a second, larger 20 GWh base in Xiantao with a 15 billion yuan investment.
Global penetration forecasts are being revised upwards. SMM projects all-solid-state battery shipments will reach 13.5 GWh by 2028, with semi-solid-state variants bridging the gap at 160 GWh. By 2030, all-solid-state penetration is expected to hit 4% globally.
Sentiment: Bullish. The successful commercial delivery of solid-state batteries for drones and robotics provides the necessary revenue stream to validate manufacturing processes before automotive scaling. Expect a surge in equipment orders for solid-state lines in Q2 2026. However, high costs will initially limit these cells to premium EVs and specialized industrial applications (drones, eVTOLs).