Hylic, known as Heyuan Lithium Innovation in Trung Quoc, was established in January 2023. Headquartered in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, the company focuses on the research, development, production, and sale of solid-state lithium-ion battery products for energy storage, power applications, and home appliances.

In December 2023, Hylic signed a project contract with local authorities for the construction of a mass production line for liquid-solid state (or semi-solid) batteries. The project has a total investment of 5 billion yuan (716,6 million USD) and covers an area of 26,4 hectares.

The facility includes a liquid-solid state battery production line with a capacity of 10 GWh, to be built in three phases. Phase one covers 8,4 hectares and has a total investment of 500 million yuan (71,7 million USD) for a 1 GWh production line. Phase two, built within the area of phase one, involves a total investment of 1 billion yuan (143,3 million USD) for a 2 GWh production line.

Phase three is allocated 18,1 hectares, with a total investment of 3,5 billion yuan (501,6 million USD), to construct a 7 GWh production line.

Liquid-solid state battery from the Chinese automaker Nio. Photo: Nio

Hylic also introduced its "6-in-1 battery", which emphasizes energy density, safety, capacity, discharge rate, cycle life, and cost, targeting diverse applications.

This lightweight smart power battery is designed for small mobility vehicles such as electric motorcycles and bicycles. It boasts an energy density of 250-300 Wh/kg, has successfully completed 1,500 test cycles, and passed a 5 mm nail penetration test with a 100% success rate.

Additionally, the company produces smart power batteries for low-altitude operations, intended for applications like electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicles. These batteries support a maximum instantaneous discharge rate of 15C and operate within a temperature range of -20 to 55℃.

Trung Quoc, a leading global battery manufacturing hub, has shifted its terminology from "semi-solid state battery" to "liquid-solid state battery". This change aims to reduce confusion between semi-solid and fully solid technologies, both of which are gaining increasing interest in Trung Quoc's rapidly expanding electric vehicle industry.

Liquid-solid state batteries incorporate both solid and liquid electrolytes, with the solid component typically exceeding 90%. This design offers enhanced safety and higher energy density compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, while remaining compatible with existing production lines. It is viewed as an interim step towards fully solid systems, which still face challenges related to materials, cost, and large-scale manufacturing.

My Anh (according to CarNewsChina)