CATL's Zeng Yuqun: Solid-State Batteries Unlikely to Reach Million-Vehicle Scale Before 2030

CATL Chairman Zeng Yuqun recently stated that the industry should clearly define solid-state batteries as "batteries whose electrolytes are entirely solid under ambient temperature and pressure." He emphasized that the development of solid-state batteries must have clear objectives and should not pursue "solid-state for the sake of being solid." Zeng predicted that before 2030, it is highly unlikely for solid-state batteries to achieve vehicle deployment at the scale of one million units, primarily due to challenges in performance and cost. He noted that commercialization of solid-state batteries still hinges on breakthroughs in several key scientific and technological issues. In terms of technology readiness, rated on a scale from 1 to 9, solid-state batteries currently stand at level 4 overall—still short of productization or commercialization. Additionally, CATL Chief Scientist Wu Kai stated in 2024 that the company aims to advance its solid-state battery technology to levels 7–8 by 2027, enabling limited pilot production, though large-scale mass production will still face hurdles such as high costs.