- The prototype cars feature solid-state batteries with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, doubling that of mainstream LFP battery cells.
- Dongfeng claims this solid-state battery enables the vehicle to achieve a range exceeding 1,000 kilometers on a single charge.
Dongfeng Motor (HKG: 0489) has initiated extreme cold-weather testing of its prototype vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries, preparing for the next-generation battery's deployment in mass-produced vehicles within the year.
These prototypes, featuring solid-state batteries with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg, departed Dongfeng's headquarters in Wuhan, Hubei province on Wednesday for winter testing in Mohe, Heilongjiang province in northeastern China.
This marks a crucial step toward industrial application of Dongfeng's solid-state battery technology, the company said on Wednesday.
Current electric vehicle (EV) models primarily utilize liquid lithium batteries, with mainstream lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells offering energy densities around 140-210 Wh/kg, while ternary batteries achieve higher densities of 200-260 Wh/kg.
As a critical pre-production validation phase, winter testing evaluates battery performance under real-world snow and ice road conditions and fluctuating temperatures, Dongfeng said.
The 350 Wh/kg solid-state battery has completed material and electrochemical system validation and rolled off a pilot production line.
The battery offers high safety, longer range, and low-temperature resilience, enabling vehicles to achieve over 1,000 kilometers of range, Dongfeng said.
This solid-state battery passes 170°C thermal box safety tests and maintains up to 72% energy retention at -30°C, according to the automaker.
The winter testing will evaluate low-temperature range, charging performance, and durability. Prototype vehicles will undergo over 70 tests in extreme cold conditions ranging from -40°C to -30°C, assessing battery range stability, charge/discharge efficiency, structural safety, and vehicle integration capabilities.
Dongfeng's solid-state battery portfolio includes multiple products with energy densities ranging from 240 Wh/kg to 500 Wh/kg, the company said.
At the 2025 World Power Battery Conference held last November, Dongfeng showcased its next-generation high-energy-density solid-state battery and ultra-1000-volt pure-electric platform.
The company said at the time that it would begin mass production of solid-state batteries with an energy density of 350 Wh/kg for vehicle integration by September 2026, enabling a vehicle range of 1,000 kilometers.
Beyond Dongfeng, several other domestic automakers are advancing solid-state battery R&D.
China FAW Group's Hongqi brand announced earlier this month the rollout of its first prototype equipped with solid-state batteries, marking the brand's entry into real-vehicle testing for all-solid-state battery technology.
Solid-state batteries are considered next-generation battery technology. However, major battery manufacturers, including CATL (HKG: 3750, SHE: 300750) and BYD (HKG: 1211, OTCMKTS: BYDDY), currently aim to achieve small-scale vehicle integration of solid-state batteries by 2027.
