China’s Hylic begins mass‑producing liquid‑solid state batteries, targeting 10 GWh capacity by 2025. Discover how this breakthrough could power the future – read more now!
Hylic’s ambitious rollout
Founded in January 2023 under the name Heyuan Lithium Innovation, Hylic is headquartered in Tongzhou, Jiangsu Province. The company focuses on research, development, manufacturing, and sales of lithium‑ion solid‑state batteries for energy storage, automotive, and consumer‑device applications.
Production phases and investment
In December 2023, Hylic signed a project agreement with local authorities to build a mass‑production line for liquid‑solid (formerly called semi‑solid) batteries on a 26.4‑hectare site. The total investment is CNY 5 billion (US$716.6 million) and the plant will eventually deliver a combined 10 GWh of battery capacity.
The rollout is split into three stages:
- Phase 1: 8.4 ha, CNY 500 million (US$71.7 million) – 1 GWh production line.
- Phase 2: Built within the Phase 1 footprint, CNY 1 billion (US$143.3 million) – adds 2 GWh.
- Phase 3: Expands to 18.1 ha, CNY 3.5 billion (US$501.6 million) – 7 GWh capacity.
The “6‑in‑1” battery: performance highlights
Hylic unveiled its flagship “6‑in‑1” cell, engineered to optimise six key attributes: energy density, safety, capacity, discharge rate, cycle life, and cost.
- Energy density of 250‑300 Wh/kg, targeting lightweight mobility such as e‑bikes and electric scooters.
- Successfully completed 1,500 charge‑discharge cycles and a 5 mm nail penetration test with a 100 % pass rate.
- Designed for low‑altitude applications like eVTOL aircraft, supporting an instant discharge rate of up to 15C.
- Operational temperature range from –20 °C to 55 °C.
Why “liquid‑solid” matters
China’s battery sector has rebranded the technology from “semi‑solid” to “liquid‑solid” to differentiate it from fully solid‑state batteries. A liquid‑solid cell contains both solid and liquid electrolyte, with the solid component typically exceeding 90 % of the total. This configuration offers higher energy density and improved safety compared with conventional lithium‑ion cells, while remaining compatible with existing production lines.
The approach serves as a transitional step toward fully solid‑state batteries, which still face material‑cost and scale‑up challenges.
Implications for the EV and eVTOL markets
With the plant slated to start operations in Q4 2025, Hylic’s 10 GWh output could supply a substantial share of China’s rapidly expanding electric‑vehicle and vertical‑takeoff‑and‑landing (eVTOL) sectors. The higher safety profile and fast‑discharge capability are especially attractive for high‑performance, lightweight platforms.
As the global race for next‑generation battery technology intensifies, Hylic’s liquid‑solid state venture positions China at the forefront of a safer, more energy‑dense future.