GM says China lab develops solid-state battery

General Motors' Shanghai-based science lab has developed a “game-changing” high-power bipolar solid-state battery, the company's China unit said this week.

Compared with conventional liquid electrolyte batteries, the new battery technology excels in thermal stability and abuse tolerance, GM China noted. 

While greatly enhancing all-climate battery serviceability, the battery’s unique bipolar stacking and interfacial ionic booster leads to a simplified configuration, resulting in a 30 percent higher volumetric cell-to-pack ratio and 19 percent pack cost saving over conventional Lithium ion batteries, it added. 

The battery can be used in 12-volt start/stop, 48-volt mild hybrid and battery-assisted systems to store energy, thus “creating greater commercial synergy with Li-ion batteries for pure electric vehicles”, GM China said. 

It will also be used in GM’s Ultium EV platform to bring better EV driving experience for customers, it added.

The new battery technology also boasts the potential to assist electrification in other industries such as locomotives, wind power generation and mobile medical equipment, according to GM China.