Chery today hosted its “2026 Chery Automobile Battery Night” event, revealing advancements in battery technology, including its solid-state batteries, and outlining its future smart energy ecosystem. The event also saw the joint release of the “Global Power Battery Safety White Paper 2026” in collaboration with leading safety research institutions.
Chery’s “Rhino Battery” lineup was a centrepiece of the presentation, showcasing both liquid-state and solid-state battery technologies. The Rhino S series is dedicated to solid-state applications, with models S1000, S1200, and S1500. The company announced a major advancement in solid-state cell energy density, achieving 400Wh/kg and enabling a range exceeding 1500 km. Chery aims to further push this to 600Wh/kg.
The automaker confirmed that its solid-liquid hybrid batteries are slated for installation in the Exeed EX7, a luxury five-seater SUV, in the fourth quarter of this year. Furthermore, the Exeed ES8 will be the first to feature full solid-state batteries, with vehicle testing expected to be completed within a year.
Chery’s commitment to solid-state battery development is backed by substantial investment, with over 10 billion yuan poured into R&D. The dedicated solid-state R&D team comprises over 1,200 professionals, 90% of whom hold master’s or doctoral degrees. Key technological advancements include electrolyte lattice anchoring, cathode shield technology, and anode stress relief technology, alongside process improvements such as ultra-thin coating, warm isostatic pressing, and integrated moulding techniques. AI technology is also being leveraged to accelerate R&D efficiency.
Beyond solid-state, Chery also detailed its liquid-state Rhino battery, available in LFP short blade, LFP/NCM prismatic, and NCM large cylindrical formats. These batteries boast rapid charging capabilities, allowing for a 500 km range with 8 minutes of charging, and a lifespan of 5,000 cycles.
Editor’s comment
I watched the entire “Battery Night” event online. Chery offered limited details about its solid-state battery, notably omitting any mention of the charging rate for its Rhino solid-state battery.
At this stage, solid-state batteries still face numerous challenges, and developers’ silence often points to unresolved issues. Earlier this year, Dongfeng’s 350Wh/kg solid-state battery underwent vehicle testing, but its reported charging rate is a mere 1C. In an era where BYD’s Blade Battery 2.0 can charge from 10% to 97% in just 9 minutes, a 1C charging rate is undeniably sluggish, regardless of the battery’s chemistry or form factor.
Even if Chery’s solid-state battery becomes ready for vehicle testing within a year, mass production is likely still 3-5 years away. As Ouyang Minggao, a leading Chinese battery expert, recently advised consumers, there’s no need to hold out for solid-state batteries in the immediate future.
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