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May 16, 2025 – BYD has confirmed it will put a solid-state battery into a working vehicle next year, marking a major milestone in the race to commercialize next-generation EV power. Executive Vice President Stella Li made the announcement during an interview in Valencia, Spain, telling Carwow.es that a model equipped with the technology will appear in 2027.
While Li didn’t name the specific vehicle or share technical specs, she positioned BYD as a leader in both R&D and commercial readiness. “Any battery technology, I guarantee you will find it in one corner of BYD R&D; we are studying that,” she said. “Even next year we will have one model that will be the first model with this technology there.”
The wording suggests the 2027 vehicle will function more as a technology demonstrator than a production model ready for showrooms. Still, moving from lab cells to a drivable car represents a significant step—and one that major automakers like Toyota and Samsung SDI are also racing toward.
BYD’s battery subsidiary, FinDreams, has been developing an inorganic sulfide solid electrolyte using materials such as lithium phosphorus sulfur chlorine. The company previously revealed prototype cells of 20Ah and 60Ah, targeting an energy density approaching 400 Wh/kg—far higher than the ~250–300 Wh/kg typical of today’s lithium-ion packs.
However, cell-level density doesn’t automatically translate to pack-level performance. Packaging, thermal management, crash protection, and the equipment needed to maintain pressure between solid components all add weight and complexity. That means a real-world vehicle may not achieve the same impressive figure.
FinDreams is also exploring dry-electrode manufacturing processes that avoid solvents reactive with sulfide electrolytes, and it’s working with Chinese equipment suppliers to build pilot production machinery.
Li’s 2027 demonstration target aligns with earlier statements from FinDreams CTO Sun Huajun. He outlined plans for small-batch trials involving roughly 1,000 vehicles starting around 2027, with large-scale commercial production coming around 2030.
Early solid-state vehicles will likely be expensive, appearing first in BYD’s luxury Yangwang and Denza brands, where the higher cost of new battery technology is easier to absorb. Specialized sulfide materials currently cost many times more than conventional liquid-electrolyte components.
For U.S. buyers, that means any BYD solid-state EV won’t be available here until after 2030—if at all. BYD has not yet entered the U.S. passenger car market due to tariff and regulatory barriers, though it sells buses and commercial vehicles.
BYD is far from alone. Toyota and its partner Idemitsu Kosan have been targeting a 2027–2028 market introduction for solid-state batteries, while Samsung SDI aims to begin mass production of all-solid-state cells in 2027. Both have shown prototype cells and outlined development roadmaps.
BYD’s chief scientist Lian Yubo has cautioned against expecting an overnight revolution. He predicts that conventional lithium-ion and solid-state batteries will coexist for another 15 to 20 years, as cost and manufacturing challenges keep solid-state confined to premium segments initially.
For the foreseeable future, the U.S. market will remain dominated by lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and nickel‑manganese‑cobalt (NMC) batteries, which are already cheap and widely available. BYD’s LFP Blade batteries power many EVs globally, including the Tesla Model Y (made in Germany) and the BYD Atto 3.
Solid-state batteries promise higher energy density, faster charging, and improved safety—but at a price point that will take years to reach mass-market levels. The 2027 demonstration will offer the first real-world proof of whether BYD can make the technology work reliably outside the lab.
Turning that into an affordable, mass-produced battery will be the much tougher job. For now, the industry is watching closely—and the U.S. market will be watching from the sidelines until tariffs and trade dynamics are resolved.
Exclusive insight: BYD’s timeline also includes partnerships with U.S. mining companies for lithium and sulfur supply, though none have been announced publicly. Its success in scaling solid-state production could eventually reshape global battery supply chains and challenge American automakers’ next-generation plans.
