The holy grail in battery technology: solid-state batteries on the horizon

ARTICLE

MARKET & CURRENT AFFAIRS

Theo de Jong, Tuesday 29 July 2025

103 sec

Batteries are the invisible engine of our modern world, from hedge trimmers to today's electric bulldozers. But we always want more: longer range, faster charging, less weight. The 'holy grail' many are waiting for is the solid-state battery.
What makes this technology so special? Let me try to explain it in simple terms.

Theo de Jong

The big difference lies in the electrolyte—the material that allows charged particles to move between the positive and negative electrodes. Instead of the flammable liquids found in most current lithium-ion batteries, solid-state batteries, as the name suggests, use a solid material—think certain ceramics, polymers, or glass-like substances.
This seemingly simple change opens up a world of potential benefits. First, it allows for higher energy density. More energy in a smaller and lighter package is essential for larger electric agricultural vehicles that need greater range or high energy without becoming unmanageably heavy. Second, it offers greater safety. Without flammable liquid, the risk of fire from damage or overheating is drastically reduced. Most importantly, solid-state batteries promise much faster charging times and a longer lifespan.
Sounds fantastic, right? Yet they're not everywhere—at least not yet. The technology is still largely in the research and development phase. Manufacturing these solid electrolytes and achieving stable contact is complex and, at scale, still expensive. Performance under extreme temperatures—due to expansion and contraction—remains a particular challenge.

Nevertheless, the outlook is promising. Major players in the automotive and energy sectors are investing heavily. Think of names like Toyota, Samsung, Nissan, and LG.
If the production challenges can be overcome, solid-state batteries could revolutionize electric transport and energy storage. They could make electric tractors, trucks, and other heavy machines much more practical by combining high energy density with fast charging.
The road ahead is bumpy, but the destination—safer, more powerful, and faster-charging batteries—is worth the journey, in my view. I expect we'll see them become a serious alternative within three to five years.

It's hard to say with certainty which specific type or composition of solid-state battery will succeed on the market, as development is still ongoing and different technologies have their own pros and cons. Different companies are pursuing different approaches, which shows there's no clear winner yet.
It's likely that, just as with current lithium batteries, several solid-state chemistries will coexist, each optimized for specific markets and applications—for example, one focusing on maximum energy density, another on maximum safety or lifespan. The technology that first manages scalable, reliable, and affordable production—regardless of its exact chemistry—will have a major competitive advantage.

And whether China will once again dominate the market, as it does with lithium, I can't predict. They had the advantage of abundant lithium resources. But this time, materials like carbon or silicon might play a larger role—and those are more widely available globally.
Still, many Chinese battery manufacturers are actively developing in this space too, such as CATL and BYD. But considering that the second-largest supply of silicon lies in Russia... well, it's hard to say how it will unfold.

This article was previously published on 25 July 2025 on the website of Stad + Groen.

Toyota Nederland

Nissan Nederland

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