China’s battery breakthrough could potentially **double the driving range of EVs**
AUTOMOBILESTECHGLOBAL EVENTS
A study published in Nature on Wednesday highlights the creation of a lithium metal pouch cell surpassing 600 Wh/kg and a battery pack delivering 480 Wh/kg. For comparison, Tesla’s 4680 battery provides roughly 300 Wh/kg, while BYD’s popular Blade Battery achieves just 150 Wh/kg.
Breaking Past Conventional Limits
At the heart of this breakthrough is a “delocalized electrolyte design”, which departs from the traditional solvation structures that have long restricted battery efficiency. Hu Wenbin, lead researcher at Tianjin University’s School of Materials Science and Engineering, explained that this method creates a more disordered solvation microenvironment, enhancing overall electrolyte performance.
This novel approach not only balances various solvation structures but also lowers kinetic barriers and strengthens the electrode–electrolyte interface, effectively tackling the core challenges that have held back the progress of lithium metal batteries.
Commercial Applications Already in Motion
The research has progressed well beyond the lab stage, moving into real-world deployment. A pilot production line for high-energy lithium metal batteries is already in place, and the technology has been successfully integrated into three domestically developed micro electric UAV models. In rigorous testing — including low-temperature exposure, fire, and nail puncture trials — the batteries proved their thermal and mechanical stability, showcasing impressive durability.
This accomplishment exceeds Beijing’s ‘Made in China 2025’ target of achieving 400 Wh/kg for EV batteries, firmly positioning China as a global leader in next-generation battery technology. The breakthrough comes at a time when demand for high-energy, long-lasting rechargeable batteries is surging across electric mobility, consumer electronics, and emerging fields such as humanoid robotics.
If scaled to mass production, the innovation could double or even quadruple EV driving range and revolutionise the drone sector with dramatically extended flight times.
