SVOLT Starts Series Production of Semi-Solid-State Battery

SVOLT Begins Series Production of a Semi-Solid-State EV Battery

The Chinese battery maker SVOLT has started series production of a semi-solid-state battery for electric cars. The first 100 kWh packs have come off the line in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, chairman Yang Hongxin announced in a video, electrive reported on 27 October. That is earlier than planned: in 2025 SVOLT had targeted 2027 for series production.

Key takeaways

Battery: "Dragon Armor", semi-solid (solid-liquid hybrid) electrolyte, 100 kWh per pack.

Energy density: 300 Wh/kg in the first generation; 360 Wh/kg planned for the second.

Charging: 6C, about 500 km of range added in 12 minutes (manufacturer figure).

Customers: not named yet. Next-generation Mini models are reported, but not confirmed.

The pack works at up to 900 V and is rated for more than 3,000 charging cycles.

What a semi-solid-state battery is

A normal lithium-ion battery uses a liquid electrolyte between the electrodes. A full solid-state battery replaces it with a solid material, which promises more energy in the same space and better safety, but is still hard to make in large numbers. A semi-solid-state battery is a step between the two: part of the liquid is replaced by a gel or solid material. It gains some of the benefits while still using much of today's production equipment. Yang Hongxin himself said in May 2026 that full solid-state batteries will take a very long time to commercialise.

Who is SVOLT, and the Mini link

SVOLT was spun off from Great Wall Motor (GWM) in 2018 and ranks among the ten largest battery makers in China. According to CnEVPost, SVOLT will supply batteries for next-generation Mini models. GWM and BMW run Spotlight Automotive, the joint venture in China that builds the electric Mini Cooper and Mini Aceman. Mini has not confirmed the report.

Why it matters for drivers

For a typical electric car, 300 Wh/kg at cell level means a lighter battery for the same range, or more range for the same weight. The headline charging figure of about 500 km in 12 minutes needs a charger with very high power, which is still rare in Europe. In practice, faster charging on the motorway and smaller battery degradation over the car's life will matter more to drivers than record numbers. Until a car using the pack is named, its real-world range and charging curve are unknown.

More battery cars: Mini models in the catalogue and our electric cars section.