[News] China Unveils 15th Five-Year Battery Plan, Targets Initial Large-Scale All-Solid-State Battery Deployment by 2030

China is setting out its next-stage roadmap for emerging battery technologies, with solid-state and sodium-ion batteries among the key areas targeted for further development. According to Xinhua News, China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and six other government departments released the 15th Five-Year Plan for the Development of the New Battery Industry on September 28. TechNews adds that the plan also calls for expanding the use of new battery technologies in areas including energy storage and data centers.

By 2030, the plan targets breakthroughs in advanced electrode materials, novel electrolytes, and high-end auxiliary materials, alongside major progress in next-generation battery technologies. It also aims to achieve initial large-scale application of all-solid-state batteries, extend the cycle life of long-life lithium batteries to 15,000 cycles, and reduce product defect rates among leading companies to the parts-per-billion (PPB) level.

TechNews adds that the plan seeks to expand new battery applications beyond the EV market. It calls for greater integration of new batteries with clean energy and energy-consuming equipment, extending their use to ships, aviation, intelligent robots, and construction machinery. For energy storage, targeted applications include power generation, power grids, industrial parks, and data centers, expanding the role of new batteries in next-generation power systems.

Beyond the 2030 targets, Xinhua notes that the plan outlines 19 key tasks across five areas. These include developing intelligent production lines for key battery manufacturing processes, advancing new battery structures such as flexible and internally series-connected designs, improving battery lifecycle data management, accelerating industry standards, and strengthening intellectual property and trade-secret protections.

The new roadmap comes as all-solid-state battery development continues to advance globally. According to TrendForce, the global all-solid-state battery (ASSB) industry is moving from laboratory development toward engineering validation and pilot production in 2026. Some leading companies have advanced to Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) 5–6, with Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Samsung SDI slightly ahead in small-scale pilot production. Meanwhile, Chinese companies including CATL, BYD, and FAW are advancing their own pilot lines toward TRL 4–5.

China Accelerates ASSB Pilot Production and Vehicle Validation

China is seeing progress in ASSB pilot production and product validation. According to China Energy News, several domestic companies are advancing pilot lines in 2026. BYD’s first sulfide-based ASSB pilot line in Shenzhen entered operation in February with planned capacity of 2 GWh, while GAC’s ASSB pilot line has also begun operations and is expected to conduct small-scale vehicle testing in 2026. Gotion High-tech, meanwhile, has completed its first ASSB experimental line with designed capacity of 0.2 GWh.

Vehicle validation is also moving forward. National Business Daily notes that BYD plans to begin demonstration deployment of ASSBs in vehicles around 2027 before moving toward large-scale adoption after 2030. Changan aims to begin vehicle validation in 2026 and gradually move toward mass production in 2027, while Chery plans targeted vehicle deployment in 2026 and batch vehicle validation in 2027.

Read more

• ASSBs Enter Engineering Validation Phase as Japanese, Korean, and Chinese Suppliers Accelerating Auto Testing and Broaden beyond Auto to New Frontiers, Says TrendForce
• Japan Accelerates Development of ASSBs and Supply Chain Buildout, with Government Subsidies Reaching $660 Million, Says TrendForce

(Photo credit: Gotion High-tech)