VINACHEM

The Anhui Anwa New Energy Technology, a company backed and partly owned by Chinese automaker Chery, has unveiled its first batch of solid-state battery samples in China. Established in June 2020, Anwa's equity share includes Chery New Energy, which holds a 9.89% stake and battery giant Gotion High-Tech which has a stake of 5.89%.

On Friday, Anwa declared that its first batch of solid-state battery samples had completed production at its factory in China’s Wuhu Economic and Technological Development Zone. As per domestic media reports, these engineering samples meet the new 'No Fire No Explosion' safety standard.

While these first-generation solid-state cells offer an energy density of 136 watt-hours per pound, the company plans to scale up to gigawatt-hour-level production of next-generation batteries.

In October 2024, Chery Group had revealed plans to launch solid-state battery production, an announcement which is now being seen to align with the initial packs having successfully rolled off Anwa's assembly line.

Anwa's five-step dry manufacturing process lowers energy consumption

Anwa's plant uses a fully integrated production line that combines eight processes, including automatic coating of positive and negative electrodes, electrode diaphragm compositing, and dynamic heat sealing. The line is over 115 feet long and operates at a speed of about 66 feet per minute. Its planned annual production capacity is 1.25 GWh. Laser slitting technology is used to reduce dust pollution.

To improve efficiency and reduce costs, Anwa has introduced a five-step dry manufacturing process that lowers energy consumption by 20% and reduces fixed asset investment by 30%. This streamlined production method not only helps minimize environmental impact but also makes battery manufacturing more sustainable and cost-effective.

Furthermore, the company plans to expand its facilities by establishing a 5 GWh solid-state battery research and development center at the site. Alongside this, Anwa will build a fully integrated automated production line to support large-scale manufacturing and accelerate innovation in solid-state battery technology.

Mass production plans for third-gen solid-state batteries by 2027

Having achieved an energy density of about 136 watt-hours per pound through its first-generation solid-state batteries, Anwa has already started trial production of second-generation battery packs which are expected to deliver an energy density of approximately 181 watt-hours per pound—marking a significant improvement over previous the model.

By 2027, Anwa aims to begin mass production of its third-generation solid-state batteries, targeting an energy density of approximately 227 watt-hours per pound. This advancement signals a crucial step forward in battery technology, promising higher capacity and longer driving ranges for electric vehicles, while potentially lowering production costs.

If successfully commercialized, the breakthrough could transform the EV market by enhancing vehicle performance and accelerating the shift toward cleaner transportation. Although no official announcements have been made about specific models equipped with these batteries, Chery’s Exeed Exlantix ET electric crossover was recently spotted featuring 'All-solid-state battery' branding, suggesting it may be among the first to adopt Anwa’s cutting-edge technology.  – Source: Yahoo News