China-Led Global Solid-State Battery Standard Approved by IEC, Signaling Era of 500Wh/kg Batteries

August 30, 2026

Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) China

Overview

The first global international standard for all-solid-state batteries, led by China, has been approved by the IEC, establishing unified technical benchmarks for the industry. Concurrently, Saike Power secured hundreds of millions of RMB in funding to accelerate R&D in sulfide electrolytes, high-safety cells, and solid-state pilot production line expansion. Further bolstering safety, GaoNeng ShuZao’s 20Ah sulfide cell successfully passed a nail penetration test without ignition or explosion, significantly contributing to enhanced solid-state battery safety.

In Depth

Key Findings

China has successfully spearheaded the approval of the world’s first international standard for all-solid-state batteries by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This landmark achievement is expected to establish global unified benchmarks for the design, manufacturing, and evaluation of solid-state batteries, thereby accelerating product development and international trade. Domestically, Saike Power has successfully secured hundreds of millions of RMB in funding, earmarked for the expansion of its sulfide electrolyte research, high-safety cell development, solid-state battery pilot production lines, and overall material system R&D. Furthermore, GaoNeng ShuZao’s 20Ah sulfide all-solid-state cell demonstrated exceptional safety by passing a stringent nail penetration test without any signs of ignition or explosion, marking a significant advancement in intrinsic safety.

Technical and Clinical Details

The international standard approved by the IEC encompasses a wide array of aspects, including performance evaluation methods, safety requirements, and interface designs for all-solid-state batteries. This standardization empowers manufacturers to develop and test products against consistent criteria, ultimately enhancing product reliability and safety for consumers. Saike Power’s substantial funding is a crucial step towards the commercialization of sulfide-based solid-state battery technology. While sulfide solid electrolytes offer high ionic conductivity, they present challenges in air stability and manufacturing costs, which the company aims to overcome. GaoNeng ShuZao’s successful nail penetration test explicitly demonstrates the inherent high safety of sulfide-based solid-state batteries, addressing one of the major barriers to their practical adoption.

Background and Industry Context

All-solid-state batteries are heralded as the next-generation power source poised to overcome the limitations of conventional liquid-electrolyte lithium-ion batteries, particularly concerning safety, energy density, and cycle life. Global automotive manufacturers and battery companies are engaged in fierce development competition. China, leveraging the immense scale of its electric vehicle (EV) market and extensive state investment in battery technology, is actively seeking to establish leadership in this domain. The establishment of international standards is indispensable for technological diffusion and maturity, and China’s leadership in this process symbolizes its growing influence in the global battery industry. Safety concerns remain a significant obstacle to widespread EV adoption, and concrete safety demonstrations, such as GaoNeng ShuZao’s achievement, directly build consumer trust.

Strategic Significance and Outlook

The IEC’s approval of international standards for solid-state batteries can be interpreted as the commencement of a countdown to an era where 500 Wh/kg high-performance solid-state batteries transition from ‘dream’ to ‘reality.’ Standardized criteria will streamline R&D, facilitate supply chain establishment, and ultimately contribute to mass production and cost reduction. Investments in companies like Saike Power accelerate technological advancements, and the success of safety tests like GaoNeng ShuZao’s will bolster market confidence in the technology. International attention is now focused on how these advancements will accelerate the adoption of solid-state batteries across diverse applications, including electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and portable devices.

Source: https://news.metal.com/en/newscontent/104085918-solid-state-battery-weekly-global-standards-set-by-china-countdown-to-the-500whkg-era

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