Nio has demonstrated the real-life range of its new 150-kilowatt-hour Ultra Long
A Nio owner tested out the startup automaker''s new 150-kilowatt-hour "semi
Days after Chinese automaker NIO showcased the massive range potential of its incoming 150 kWh solid-state batteries, their manufacturer, WeLion, shared some insight on when consumers can expect to see the technology roll out in mass quantities. This could herald a new era of EV mobility with safer cars that charge faster and drive farther.
Solid-state batteries remain the holy grail for OEMs as their non-volatile, lightweight, and energy-dense properties offer the performance spec consumers have long sought in their decision to ditch gas-powered vehicles once and for all.
While solid-state technology already exists and continues to evolve amongst several battery developers, the ability to scale and reach cost parity with traditional lithium-ion cells remains a massive hurdle.
Chinese OEMs are paving the way by introducing the first passenger EV models to feature the tech. For example, some vehicles with semi-solid-state cells are already for sale overseas, but we have yet to see the full potential of solid electrolyte batteries on the consumer market.
NIO ($NIO) hopes to change that with its EVs, particularly its ET7 sedan. When the flagship EV was first introduced in early 2021, NIO also unveiled a 150 kWh pack equipped with solid-state batteries from Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology, better known as WeLion.
However, the public saw few updates on the progress of the potentially revolutionary battery technology until this past May, when a filing with China''s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology revealed that two NIO SUVs and one sedan would receive battery upgrades using cells from WeLion. By the end of June, WeLion held a ceremony with NIO to commemorate the progress of the potentially revolutionary battery technology.
Earlier this week, NIO founder, chairman, and CEO William Li took an ET7 equipped with WeLion''s solid-state batteries out for a range test and successfully drove 1,044 km (650 miles) with 3% battery remaining.
Now that we''ve seen the range potential of the solid-state packs in real-world driving situations, WeLion has shared that it expects to begin mass production of the packs next year.
This is a semi-solid battery, with a gel electrolyte similar to LiPo (WeLion also sells LiPo for drones).
The higher energy density seems to comes from a high-nickel cathode and some silicon added to the anode. I guess they solved the cycling issues with NCM-811, their gel probably deals with Si expansion/contraction, and they figured out how to avoid issues typical of LiPo (gas generation, delamination, etc).
It''s definitely not anywhere close to a true solid state battery with a solid ionic conductor replacing the electrolyte and separator, and solid metal anode replacing graphite. And they do need to prove their mettle before a wider roll out (or at least come with an extra-long warranty).
According to a report from Chinese media outlet Jiemian, WeLion has made plenty of progress on its 360 Wh/kg solid-state batteries for NIO and is planning to deliver them in mass quantities by April 2024. Per WeLion:
The company expects to supply semi-solid-state batteries to Weilai (NIO) in bulk in April next year. The specific scale will be determined based on Weilai''s needs, and it should be a gradual climb.
NIO will use the solid-state batteries in a cell-to-pack (CTP) design that removes the need for modules, thus further increasing energy density and, as a result, all-electric range. While we''ve already seen the technology propel NIO''s ET7 sedan, we should expect to see solid-state batteries in plenty more of its current and upcoming models.
As we reported back in October, NIO''s initial tests with WeLion''s energy-dense cells led the automaker to file plans to expand the battery upgrades to 11 additional EV models. This Saturday, during its annual NIO Day event, the automaker will unveil its most premium model to date – an executive flagship sedan called the ET9. No word yet on whether that EV will offer the solid-state CTP technology, but it would make sense given the sedan is expected to debut as NIO''s most technologically advanced offering to date.
We will learn more as we venture into 2024 and approach WeLion''s Q2 mass production target.
Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he''s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he''s probably watching Chicago sports.Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at scooter@9to5mac
The new solid-state battery can deliver 1,000 km (620 miles) of range on a single charge.
It took two and a half years but it''s finally here. Chinese electric vehicle automaker NIO has implemented a 150 kWh solid-state battery pack in its cars. The solid-state pack is supplied by WeLion and will debut on the upcoming ES6 SUV. Clients in China will be able to select the energy-dense pack as early as this month.
This is according to a report by electrek published this Friday.
The 150 kWh pack features solid-state battery cells configured to the same design of its current lithium-ion cells but can deliver 620 miles (1,000 km) of range on a single charge.
The battery was delayed for such a long time that we were beginning to think it would not happen. However, this past May NIO made a filing with China''s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (CMIIT) stating ambitious plans to sell three existing EV models with expanded battery capabilities provided by solid-state battery developer WeLion.
The company''s new SUV will be the first of those three EVs to offer the 150 kWh solid-state pack and the firm''s customer manual now shares the exact specifications of the new feature.
electrek got the details on the new pack. "NIO''s solid-state pack weighs 575 kg (1,268 lbs), 20 kg (44 lbs or 3.6%) heavier than the 100 kWh packs (555 kg). Additionally, the new pack''s energy density is 261 Wh/kg, 44.44% higher than the 180 Wh/kg the 100 kWh lithium-ion pack is offering," said the EV news outlet.
The 150 kWh pack will however maintain the same length, width, and height of the previous 100 kWh version (2,062 mm, 1,539 mm and 185.6 mm, respectively) making it suitable for use on most NIO vehicles.
Meanwhile, NIO''s solid-state battery manufacturer WeLion released a press statement on July 1 revealing that it had officially begun delivering the 150 kWh packs to the EV automaker on June 30. The firms, it said, have also signed an annual order.
The new battery will make for some pretty powerful performances on the company''s traditional cars. electrek further reported that a "NIO chairperson and CEO has shared the ES6 will be able to garner 577 miles (930 km) of range on a single charge with the 150 kWh pack." That''s not bad! Not bad at all especially for a company that was close to bankruptcy in 2021.
In January of 2021, NIO unveiled its latest electric sedan, the ET7, with ranges of approximately 600 miles (965 km). The move may have saved the company.
In China, battery specialist WeLion has delivered its first semi-solid-state battery cells to electric car manufacturer Nio. Nio will use the cells in its 150 kWh battery pack and is aiming for the first deliveries of e-cars with these battery packs before the end of July.
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