The world's first mass-produced solid-state battery has been unveiled, and the latest domestic industrial standards have been released.
On the eve of solid-state battery industrialization, what logic and links are worth paying attention to?
<h2>1. What happened? Joint efforts at home and abroad</h2>
Donut Lab launched the world's first mass-producible all-solid-state battery at CES, which is the first all-solid-state battery ready for immediate OEM vehicle production. Unlike many solid-state battery concepts that remain in laboratories or are far from realization, Donut Lab claims it is ready for practical application and will begin powering Verge Motorcycles' models in the first quarter of 2026. Verge stated that its upgraded TS Pro two-wheeled model will officially be delivered to users in the first quarter of this year, making it the world's first mass-produced electric vehicle powered by an all-solid-state battery.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4a8ad45c-2378-4f33-a146-adba095cd0b4.jpeg?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4a8ad45c-2378-4f33-a146-adba095cd0b4.jpeg"/>
Domestically, solid-state batteries are also accelerating breakthroughs. The national standard for automotive solid-state batteries has solicited opinions, indicating the removal of the term &#34;semi-solid-state battery,&#34; significantly raising the relevant technical thresholds. Future series of standards will be advanced in four parts. Short-term standard upgrades may increase costs, but in the long term, they will &#34;force&#34; technological breakthroughs. Currently, there is no unified international standard, and China is the first to formulate one, holding a significant share of solid-state battery production capacity. The release of this national standard draft is a systematic correction of the chaotic situation in the industry, breaking the speculative terminology of semi-solid-state and thoroughly establishing the technical standards for solid-state batteries, preparing for future control over industry discourse. <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/67397ae3-3629-4edb-b7c8-0c91ef618c6d.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/67397ae3-3629-4edb-b7c8-0c91ef618c6d.png"/> The solid-state battery industry is facing a critical turning point from laboratory innovation to industrialization breakthroughs. To deeply understand the industrialization rhythm, competitive technological paths, and the reconstruction of supply chain value, it is necessary to analyze the ultimate competition of all-solid-state batteries, where the equipment and core material links will first welcome order-driven growth from 0 to 1, focusing on the most certain and prominent bottlenecks, and avoiding the risks of uncertainty in technological routes and commercial progress.
<h2>2. Why is it important? Industrialization is imminent</h2>
Why must users pay attention to this &#34;upgrading&#34; competition that will determine the industrial landscape for the next decade? Musk stated in one of his interviews that battery storage is a crucial node in the competition among major powers, as the process of storing electricity at night and releasing energy during the day can better enhance efficiency. The attention on solid-state batteries has surpassed the technology itself, becoming the focal point for major global economies in the competition for strategic initiative in energy transition and high-end manufacturing. Its strategic necessity stems from two dimensions of &#34;upgrading&#34; competition:
① Technical dimension: Breaking through the &#34;energy - safety - cost&#34; impossible triangle is the ultimate goal
Traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries have a fundamental contradiction between energy density (currently top-notch ~300 Wh/kg) and safety (flammable electrolyte). Solid-state batteries, by using solid electrolytes, can theoretically achieve:
Energy density leap: Compatible with lithium metal anodes (theoretical capacity 3860 mAh/g) and high-voltage cathodes, providing the only realistic path for electric vehicles to exceed 1000 kilometers of range and for the commercialization of electric aviation.
Essential safety reconstruction: Fundamentally eliminate the risk of electrolyte combustion, significantly simplify the thermal management system of battery packs, and enhance system reliability and space utilization.
Cost reduction potential: Although short-term costs are high, in the long term, through material system simplification (such as potentially eliminating separators), process innovation, and production scale expansion, there is potential to disrupt the existing cost structure.
The goal of this technological &#34;upgrade&#34; is to create the next generation of universal energy storage platforms, which is as significant as the transition from fuel vehicles to electric vehicles.
② Industrial Dimension: Global competition enters a new stage of &#34;pilot production&#34;
The global competitive landscape has shifted from patent layout to a competition of industrialization capabilities, forming a dynamic new balance:
China: Characterized by &#34;strong national policy drive + rapid follow-up by market entities.&#34; Under the guidance of special R&amp;D funding, companies like CATL, BYD, and Nio (in collaboration with Weilan) have established pilot production lines and generally set 2026-2027 as key nodes for small-scale production or vehicle demonstration. China's strong engineering capabilities and vast application market make it the largest variable in the industrialization process.
Europe and the United States: Aiming to break free from dependence on Asian batteries through massive subsidies (such as the U.S. Infrastructure Act) and building local supply chain alliances, with a greater focus on oxide and polymer systems in technology pathways.
Japan: With decades of deep cultivation by giants like Toyota and Panasonic, it has built a strong barrier in sulfide all-solid-state patents, planning to achieve mass production in 2027-2028, intending to achieve &#34;technological blockade&#34; leadership.
<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4deadade-bd8e-4cc5-9ead-6c5f8bf59f32.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4deadade-bd8e-4cc5-9ead-6c5f8bf59f32.png"/>
The most profound change in the industry currently is the shift from exploring technological possibilities to making realistic engineering choices, which has given rise to clear investment themes. The technological paths are gradually converging, mainly focusing on sulfide all-solid-state batteries and oxide/polymer-based semi-solid-state batteries—the sulfide route is the ultimate goal, while the oxide route is a transitional solution. From a policy perspective, domestic companies and investors should focus more on the sulfide route. EVTank predicts that by 2030, global shipments of solid-state batteries (with electrolyte content below 10%) will reach 614.1 GWh, with a penetration rate of about 10% in the overall lithium battery market, and its market size will exceed 250 billion yuan. <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/344ef701-eed0-4da5-a934-353310c02c7f.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/344ef701-eed0-4da5-a934-353310c02c7f.png"/>
Source: EV Tank
<h2>III. What to Focus on Next? Where is the Incremental Value?</h2>
We believe the focus should be on the &#34;bottleneck links&#34; and &#34;value leap&#34; links, paying attention to the areas with the largest increments and the most prominent bottlenecks:
① Bottleneck Core Materials:
Solid-state Electrolytes: Especially sulfide electrolytes and their key precursor high-purity lithium sulfide. The latter currently has a high cost (hundreds of thousands per ton) and a complex production process (extremely sensitive to water and oxygen), making it the core bottleneck for cost reduction. Whoever breaks through will control the industry's throat.
Lithium Metal Anodes: The technology for large-scale production of ultra-thin (&lt;20μm) and uniform lithium foil (such as rolling method, vapor deposition method) and interface modification technology to solve dendrite and volume expansion issues is another high-barrier area.
② Value Leap Upgrade Materials:
Anodes: The iterative upgrade from graphite (about 372 mAh/g) to silicon-carbon anodes (&gt;600 mAh/g, especially CVD third-generation technology) is key to improving energy density, resulting in several times the increase in unit value.
Conductive Agents: Upgrading from traditional carbon black (addition amount 3-5%) to single-walled carbon nanotubes (addition amount &lt;0.5%) is irreplaceable in enhancing energy density and suppressing silicon expansion due to its excellent conductivity and flexibility, belonging to &#34;small amount and high efficiency&#34; high-value-added materials.
③ Manufacturing Equipment:
Equipment manufacturers are expected to be the most certain beneficiaries in the early stage of solid-state battery industrialization, benefiting before materials are mass-produced.
Revolutionary Front-end Equipment: Dry electrode equipment (dry mixing machines, fiberization equipment, precision thermal rollers) is the core that disrupts traditional wet processes. Since sulfides are sensitive to water, dry methods become a necessity, creating demand for new equipment.
Exclusive Incremental Equipment in the Middle: Static pressure equipment is the &#34;only solution&#34; to solve the solid-solid interface contact problem, representing a high-value incremental link that does not exist in liquid battery production.
Upgrade Equipment in the Later Stage: High-pressure formation equipment (pressure requirements increased from 10 tons to 60-80 tons) also needs to be upgraded simultaneously. <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4ccf3236-f343-4aad-aba2-9a45b151aa92.png?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" alt="" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://wpimg-wscn.awtmt.com/4ccf3236-f343-4aad-aba2-9a45b151aa92.png"/>
The three stages of future industrialization and key time points to remember are—
First Stage: 2026-2027
Pilot testing and scheme finalization, from samples to small-scale batch production to vehicle testing by automakers, selecting process routes;
Second Stage: 2027-2030
Entering the cooling-off period and ramp-up period, with delivery, yield, and cost reduction as the core focus areas;
Third Stage: 2030-2035
Large-scale commercialization and cost competition cycle, with brutal competition in the industry, where leading manufacturers with scale effects are the final beneficiaries.
Risk Warning and Disclaimer
The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment goals, financial conditions, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article are suitable for their specific circumstances. Investing based on this is at one's own risk

The solid-state battery industry has entered a critical stage, with the first mass-produced solid-state battery released at CES, expected to be in use by 2026. Domestically, efforts are also accelerating to establish national standards for automotive solid-state batteries, raising technical barriers and promoting industry standardization. Solid-state batteries are seen as an important technology for future energy transformation, and Musk has pointed out their significance in global competition

Solid-State Battery Spring Outlook: On the Eve of Industrialization, Simultaneous Reforms at Home and Abroad