China 's first solid - state battery factory has opened in Guangdong Province . Chinese start - up Qing Tao ( [UNK] ) Xinhua Published: Energy Development has invested CNY1bn ( $ 144 m ) in the production line , which replaces the liquid or gel - based electrolyte used in lithium - ion batteries with a solid alternative . Qing Tao has been in talks with car manufacturers about producing batteries for electric vehicles by 2020 , but the cells will initially be used for special applications and digital products , said Nan Li from Qing Tao and the Chinese Academy of Sciences .
China 's first solid - state battery factory has opened in Guangdong Province . Chinese start - up Qing Tao ( [UNK] ) Energy Development has invested CNY1bn ( $ 144 m ) in the production line , which replaces the liquid or gel - based electrolyte used in lithium - ion batteries with a solid alternative . Qing Tao has been in talks with car manufacturers about producing batteries for electric vehicles by 2020 , but the cells will initially be used for special applications and digital products , said Nan Li from Qing Tao and the Chinese Academy of Sciences .