Nio’s ES6 Features SolidState Battery Technology
The automotive industry passed a major milestone in July when solid-state battery technology was deployed in an electric vehicle for the first time. Nio is a Chinese EV manufacturer headquartered in Shanghai, and their ES6 SUV will now be available with a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery pack manufactured by Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology. There is growing optimism that major advances in battery technology will usher in a new generation of vastly improved electric vehicles. The ES6 is an early example of the superior EVs that are likely to enter the market in the coming years.
Solid-state batteries are similar to the conventional lithium-ion batteries that power today’s EVs, but their use of solid electrolytes increases their gravimetric energy density dramatically. This allows electrical energy to be stored in a much lighter battery, improving the fuel economy of the leaner EV and extending its range. Limited driving range is currently one of the main obstacles to widespread EV adoption, and solid-state batteries have great potential to mitigate this marketing drawback. Semi-solidstate batteries make use of hybrid electrolytes that provide similar benefits.
The 2023 ES6 is now available in China with three battery pack options that illustrate the range advantage of solid-state battery technology. When the luxury allwheel-drive is equipped with a conventional 75 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, it achieves a range of 304 miles. When the same type of battery cell is deployed in a larger 100 kWh battery pack, the vehicle’s range increases to 388 miles. When WeLion’s semi-solid-state battery cells are bundled in a 150 kWh battery pack, range increases to 578 miles. The 150 kWh battery pack has the exact same dimensions as its 100 kWh counterpart, and it is only 44 pounds heavier, weighing in at 1,267 pounds. The gravimetric energy density of WeLion’s battery pack is 261 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/ kg), 45% higher than the conventional lithium-ion pack, which has an energy density of just 180 Wh/kg. If Nio were to bundle conventional lithium-ion cells to create a similar 150 kWh battery pack, the weight of the ES6 would increase by about 600 pounds, undermining its efficiency, and the heavier SUV’s range would fall far short of 578 miles.
A number of companies have been working diligently to overcome stubborn technical barriers that have prevented the proliferation of solidstate batteries. Chinese battery giant Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) recently launched a semi-solid-state battery with an astounding energy density of 500 Wh/kg that could theoretically enable the electrification of passenger aircraft. Here in the United States, QuantumScape, Solid Power, and Factorial continue to make steady progress and have forwarded advanced solid-state prototypes to automakers. Toyota has been quietly developing its own solid-state technology for years and has secured a massive number of battery patents. The company recently announced a technical breakthrough that could lead to solid-state battery deployment as early as 2027 and claims to have a battery design that will deliver over 700 miles of range and recharge in less than ten minutes.
An improved fleet of more practical EVs powered by superior batteries is sure to hasten the transition away from internal combustion vehicles. For folks concerned about climate change, the arrival of Nio’s long-range ES6 is a very positive development.