NIO has made it official that it will receive the first batch of semi-solid state batteries manufactured by WeLion in September, so that the NIO ET7 can be purchased, with the 1,000 kilometers of autonomy promised, in the fourth quarter of this year. These batteries, 150kWh capacityalready halfway between those of liquid electrolyte and those of solid electrolyte are not significantly more expensive than those currently mounted on the electric saloon, NIO has assured the local media.
Until now, NIO had not mentioned who would supply the battery for this model. On March 27, WeLion’s chief scientist and founder Li Hong confirmed that his company was the supplier of this semi-solid-state battery. NIO will receive the first batch of semi-solid batteries from WeLion New Energy Technology in September. Mass production will be available in the fourth quarter of this year, according to information published by the local website. Late Postwhich also ensures, citing sources close to the manufacturer of electric vehicles, that are not significantly more expensive than currently existing liquid batteries.
These batteries, with a capacity of 150 kWh, reach an energy density 360Wh/kg, much higher than those achieved by latest-generation liquid electrolyte batteries (250 Wh/kg). The cells are made up of a carbon-silicon anode and a nickel-rich NCM cathode. They will be implemented in the NIO ET7 and with them the electric sedan will be able to reach the 1,000 kilometers of autonomy (NEDC cycle) that the Chinese manufacturer promised at the launch of this model on January 9, 2021. At that time, NIO’s plans were met with some skepticism since there is currently no worldwide mass production of batteries with this technology.
With these batteries, other NIO models such as the ES8 and ES6, both electric SUVs, can achieve autonomy of 850 and 900 kilometers respectively. Because all NIO models are developed to support a easy battery changewhile the rest of the vehicle hardware is not affected, current users will be able to enjoy the use of these batteries through a flexible upgrade schedule.
semi-solid electrolyte technology
Solid-state batteries are one of the most promising technologies for the future. The race to have the best batteries, and to have them before anyone else, is bearing fruit to the point that many manufacturers are advancing the deadlines they had planned. As a preliminary to batteries in which the electrolyte will be a completely solid ceramic material, some companies have developed a semi-solid polymer-based electrolyte that is halfway between current and future technology.
While this is a solid-like material in some respects, such as the ability to support its weight and hold its shape, a quasi-solid material shares some properties of liquids, such as conforming to the shape of the container or flowing when applied. Pressure.
Four Chinese companies working on solid-state batteries, WeLion, ChingTao Energy Development, Ganfeng Li Energy and ProLogium Technology, have chosen to develop, as a preliminary step, semi-solid state batteries based on silicon anodes. According to sources close to the manufacturer of electric vehicles, given that the increase in the cost of raw materials for this type of battery is limited and that the manufacturing process is similarare not significantly more expensive than currently existing liquid batteries.
the american company 24Mbased in Cambridge, Massachusetts, delivered in February 2019 to one of its industrial partners the first semi-solid lithium-ion cells, a proprietary technology that offers an energy density of over 280 Wh/kg. The latest to do so has been Gotion High-Tech, one of the largest battery manufacturers in China, which has announced that it will start mass-producing semi-solid-state batteries this year..
