Electric car manufacturer Nio is set to deliver vehicles with a range of 930 km (according to Chinese standards) in July. This achievement is made possible by the implementation of highly efficient Semi-Solid-State battery cells developed by Chinese battery specialist WeLion. Nio plans to incorporate these cells in their models equipped with a battery capacity of 150 kWh.

New Battery Technology 40 Percent More Efficient

Semi-Solid-State battery cells have a higher energy density, making them 40% more efficient compared to previously used batteries. Additionally, they exhibit greater fire resilience than commonly used battery cells. Moreover, they are less affected by significant temperature fluctuations, ensuring reliable performance even in extreme weather conditions.

Nio, a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, has recently expanded its operations to Europe. A notable feature of Nio’s vehicles is their easily swappable batteries. Nio has developed battery swapping stations, enabling drivers to automatically replace their depleted batteries within five minutes. However, this feature is currently exclusive to Nio vehicles.

In comparison to conventional cells, Semi-Solid-State cells boast a very high energy density of 360 Wh/kg, achieved through a combination of solid and liquid electrolytes. Standard lithium-cell batteries, currently in use, offer only around 250 Wh/kg. Additionally, these new cells are estimated to weigh in total only about 20 kilograms more than previous versions. They utilize a solid electrolyte, a silicon-graphite composite material as an anode, and a cathode with a high nickel content.

The partnership between WeLion and Nio is not exclusive. WeLion intends to collaborate with leading international automakers to accelerate the mass production of Semi-Solid-State battery cells and related battery technologies.

Learn more about new battery technologies here.