China: Solid-state batteries power future of flying cars in China.

Storyline Solid-state batteries power future of flying cars in China Chinese electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles, or e-VTOLs, are starting to use solid-state battery technology, moving the industry toward safe, economical flights. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes, meeting the higher safety standards required for eVTOLs. At a pilot production line for solid-state batteries in south China's Guangdong Province a researcher explains the higher safety threshold for solid-state batteries. Xu Zhongling, head, research institute, Sunwoda Mobility Energy Technology Co., Ltd.: "This is our core solid-state electrolyte material -- the solid-state electrolyte membrane. At present, we have reached mass production capability. It is non-flammable and can self-extinguish if ignited. We also incorporate solid-state electrolytes into both the anode and cathode to ensure efficient movement in lithium-ion conduction." So far, most eVTOLs in the industry rely on high energy-density liquid lithium batteries. Solid-state batteries are transitioning from laboratory research to mass production despite challenges existing in materials and manufacturing yield rates. Chen Zhongwei, director, State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of Chinese Academy of Sciences： "In the short term, liquid- and semi-solid-state batteries will remain the mainstream. Fully solid-state batteries represent a promising future technology. In the meantime, these three technologies are likely to develop in parallel over the long run." According to developers, a single solid-state battery the size of a smart phone could power a 500-kilogram eVTOL for about half a kilometer. [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]