Changan announces first solid-state batteries in cars before Q3
Changan’s ambitions in this field are well known: As early as March 2025, the Chinese automotive group announced plans to validate solid-state cells in vehicles during 2026 and gradually ramp up series production of the batteries from 2027. What was initially a statement to investors is now set to become reality.
In an update posted on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange platform, the company has now announced that such cells will be deployed in robots and electric vehicles before the third quarter of this year. This involves Changan’s so-called ‘Golden Bell’ battery, which is expected to achieve an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and enable a range of allegedly 1,500 kilometres in a battery-electric vehicle. While these figures were mentioned as early as March last year, the planned deployment is now described in more concrete terms.
‘Golden Bell’ is a battery brand introduced by Changan in November 2023. At the time, eight variants were presented, including cells with conventional liquid electrolytes, semi-solid electrolytes, and solid-state batteries. Once production is fully scaled, the brand is expected to produce up to 150 GWh. However, it remains unclear how this capacity will be distributed across the individual battery types.
Regarding the all-solid-state battery (ASSB) from ‘Golden Bell’, Changan has provided no further details beyond the 400 Wh/kg energy density and the 1,500-kilometre range in a battery-electric vehicle. According to CarNewsChina, the company is “expected to release more detailed information in the third quarter of 2026.” So far, Changan has only stated that safety has been improved by 70 per cent through remote diagnostics and artificial intelligence—though without further details, this claim is difficult to evaluate.
Solid-state cells are not the only technological path Changan is currently pursuing in the battery sector. As reported in February, Changan, in close collaboration with CATL, has also equipped the first test models of the Changan Nevo A06 with sodium-ion batteries. The packs from CATL’s Naxtra brand achieve an energy density of just 175 Wh/kg but are potentially more cost-effective and do not rely on raw materials such as lithium or nickel. While the Changan Nevo A06 achieves a range of 400 kilometres under the Chinese CLTC standard, the alleged 1,500-kilometre range of the ‘Golden Bell’ solid-state battery represents the other end of the spectrum, likely in terms of price as well.
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