A Historic Milestone for the Battery Industry
On August 21, 2026, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) officially approved the project initiation of a groundbreaking international standard proposal: Secondary Lithium-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicle Propulsion — Solid-State Battery Application Guide, Test Items and Conditions. This marks the first-ever international standard in the solid-state battery field, and it was proposed and led by China, with technical contributions from experts in France, South Korea, and Japan
This is more than a bureaucratic milestone. It signals a fundamental shift: in the race for next-generation battery technology, China has moved from technology follower to standard-setting leader.
Why This Standard Matters
Solid-state batteries are widely regarded as the future of lithium-ion technology. By replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid alternatives, they promise:
Higher energy density — potentially exceeding 500 Wh/kg, nearly doubling today’s best cells
Superior safety — dramatically reduced thermal runaway risk
Longer cycle life — better degradation characteristics over thousands of charge-discharge cycles
Wider operating temperature range — reliable performance in extreme environments
The new IEC standard will establish uniform testing protocols and definitions for solid-state batteries, giving global automakers and energy storage companies a common “ruler” to evaluate and compare products. Without standardized metrics, the industry has struggled with inconsistent terminology and testing methodologies that slow down procurement decisions and technology adoption.
The standard is expected to be formally published by 2028–2029 — precisely when major battery manufacturers plan to begin small-scale solid-state battery mass production.
The Global Solid-State Battery Race Is Accelerating
China’s leadership in standard-setting comes amid intense global competition:
Japan holds the most solid-state battery patents (Toyota alone has been researching since the 1990s), but commercialization has been repeatedly delayed.
South Korea’s Samsung SDI has committed to launching all-solid-state battery mass production by 2027.
China currently dominates in manufacturing scale. Bloomberg NEF data shows that over 80% of the world’s operational solid-state battery production capacity is located in China, though most is semi-solid-state rather than fully solid-state
Major Chinese battery makers are moving aggressively: Battery Factory – China Battery Manufacturers and Suppliers (solarwaytech.com)
CATL targets small-batch all-solid-state production in 2027, with large-scale deployment after 2030
BYD disclosed six solid-state battery patents and plans small-volume vehicle testing in 2027
EVE Energy launched its Longquan 3 and Longquan 4 all-solid-state batteries in March 2026, targeting small-batch production in 2027
Dongfeng Motor has built a 0.2 GWh pilot production line and plans vehicle production applications by Q4 2026
Meanwhile, China’s policy framework is accelerating commercialization: in July 2026, the Ministry of Finance exempted solid-state batteries from consumption tax through 2028, signaling strong government support for next-generation battery technology.
What This Means for Energy Storage and Power Electronics
The solid-state battery revolution isn’t just about cars — it will fundamentally reshape the entire energy storage ecosystem.
For Home Energy Storage Systems
As solid-state batteries enter the market, they will demand new-generation hybrid inverters capable of handling different charging profiles, voltage ranges, and communication protocols. Homeowners investing in solar-plus-storage systems will benefit from batteries that are safer, longer-lasting, and more energy-dense.
Products like the Solarway home hybrid inverter and 51.2V lithium battery systems are already designed with modular expandability and intelligent energy management — features that will become even more critical as next-generation batteries enter residential applications.
For Electric Vehicles and Car Inverters
The transition to solid-state batteries will change vehicle electrical architectures. Higher cell voltages and different discharge characteristics will require car inverters and traction inverters to be redesigned for new specifications. The trend toward 800V architectures, accelerated by silicon carbide (SiC) technology adoption, aligns naturally with solid-state battery advantages.
For Grid-Scale and Commercial Energy Storage
With global residential energy storage shipments already surging 137.67% in H1 2026 (reaching 39.07 GWh, per InfoLink), the introduction of solid-state batteries will further accelerate deployment. Their superior safety characteristics make them ideal for dense urban installations where fire risk is a critical concern.
The Road Ahead: Semi-Solid First, Then Full Solid-State
Industry consensus points to a phased approach:
2026–2027: Semi-solid-state batteries enter commercial deployment in EVs and energy storage systems. Several Chinese automakers (SAIC MG, GAC, Dongfeng) are already launching vehicles with semi-solid-state batteries offering 350–400 Wh/kg energy density.
2027–2029: All-solid-state batteries begin small-batch production and demonstration deployment in premium EVs.
Post-2030: Large-scale mass production expected, with costs gradually declining to competitive levels.
EVTank forecasts that global solid-state battery shipments will reach 607.2 GWh by 2030, representing a compound annual growth rate exceeding 130%.
What Solarway Is Doing
At Solarway , we’re closely monitoring the solid-state battery transition and its implications for power electronics. Our product development roadmap accounts for the evolving battery landscape:
Hybrid inverters designed to support next-generation battery chemistries and communication protocols
Car inverters engineered for the higher voltage platforms emerging from 800V architectures and solid-state cells
Energy storage battery systems with modular BMS that can adapt to evolving cell technologies
The international standard’s establishment confirms what we’ve long believed: the energy storage revolution is not a distant future — it’s happening now, and the companies that prepare today will lead tomorrow.
Conclusion
China’s leadership in establishing the world’s first solid-state battery international standard is a watershed moment for the global energy industry. It signals that solid-state technology is transitioning from laboratory curiosity to commercial reality — and that the power electronics ecosystem must evolve alongside it.
For manufacturers, investors, and consumers alike, the message is clear: the battery is changing, and everything connected to it must change too. The companies that recognize this shift now — and adapt their inverters, battery management systems, and energy storage solutions accordingly — will be best positioned to thrive in the solid-state era.
About Solarway: Solarway (solarwaytech.com) specializes in off-grid inverters, car inverters, hybrid inverters for home energy storage, lithium batteries, and portable power stations.
Contact: info@solarway.cc | solarwaytech.com
Post time: Aug-25-2026