Gotion's "Jinshi" solid-state battery with 1,000 km range enters pilot production

A Chinese battery manufacturer, backed by automotive giant Volkswagen, has announced that its new all-solid-state battery is now ready for small-scale production. The "Jinshi Battery" could allow future EVs to travel 620 miles on a single charge - a major leap from what most electric cars offer today.

After eight years of quiet development, Gotion first revealed the Jinshi Battery in May 2024. The company reports that the battery has a cell energy density of 350 Wh/kg. This figure is roughly 40% higher than the energy density found in the common ternary lithium batteries used in many of today's EVs. The complete battery pack system is designed to have an energy density of 280 Wh/kg.

Beyond just range, Gotion's battery promises impressive durability and safety. The company projects a lifespan of over 620,000 miles based on its ability to handle more than 3,000 charge and discharge cycles. This could mean the battery lasts longer than the car itself.

It also operates reliably in a wide range of temperatures, from a freezing -4°F to a scorching 185°F. Gotion confirmed the Jinshi Battery has passed several demanding safety tests, including being heated to 392°F, punctured with a nail, and crushed, all without causing a dangerous reaction.

The journey from a laboratory concept to a usable product has been a long one. Gotion is now operating its first pilot production line, which has a capacity of 0.2 GWh. The company reports a stable 90% yield rate, meaning most of the batteries being produced meet quality standards.

Engineers have also made key technical improvements, increasing the battery cell's capacity by 150% compared to early versions and making it easier to manufacture by reducing internal pressure by 90%. To prove its real-world readiness, the battery has already been tested in prototype vehicles for more than 6,200 miles.

With the small-scale production line running smoothly, Gotion has already started the design work for a much larger 2 GWh mass production facility. The company has not revealed the exact cost or construction timeline, but building such a factory could cost between RMB 1.5 billion and RMB 2 billion (approximately $205 to $273 million) for every GWh of capacity.

The company's roadmap targets having the Jinshi battery integrated into a small number of vehicles by 2027, with the goal of widespread mass production by 2030. The company is working with EHang as well, a Chinese developer of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, to adapt the battery for use in low-altitude flying vehicles.

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