China is leading development of what authorities describe as the world’s first international standard for solid-state batteries, as the technology moves closer to wider use in electric vehicles.
The proposed standard, titled “Guidelines, Test Items and Conditions for Solid-State Batteries Used in Electric Vehicle Propulsion”, has been approved as a project by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). Experts from France, South Korea and Japan are taking part alongside Chinese specialists.
Hunan Daily’s online news platform Hunan Today, citing Science and Technology Daily, reported that the work is intended to address a basic problem facing the emerging solid-state battery industry: companies and research organisations do not always use the same terminology or testing methods.
Terms such as “semi-solid”, “quasi-solid” and “solid-like” batteries have been applied inconsistently, while differences in test conditions mean results from different companies or laboratories cannot always be directly compared.
A common international standard would establish consistent test items and conditions, making results easier to compare and recognise across markets. It could also cut research and validation costs and reduce additional certification work for battery manufacturers entering overseas markets.
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation has separately confirmed that the proposal has been accepted by the IEC, describing it as the world’s first international standard project in the solid-state battery field.
The project does not mean all-solid-state batteries are ready for mass production.
Hunan Today reported that an international standard typically takes two to three years to progress from project approval to publication, with some taking longer.
Technical obstacles also remain in areas including basic materials, interface stability and large-scale engineering. Industry expectations cited by Hunan Today put large-scale commercialisation of all-solid-state batteries after 2030.
