Chery outlined its Rhinoceros Battery roadmap on October 20, 2026, at the 2026 Chery Global Innovation Conference. The plan includes a dedicated Rhinoceros S solid-state battery pilot line scheduled to enter operation in 2027.
Chery Plans 400 Wh/kg Solid-State Pilot Line for 2027
At its October 20 conference, Chery added 2027 pilot operation to targets for vehicle applications as early as 2026 and vehicle-level testing in 2027.
Neutral rows are separate technical routes; sodium-ion reaches up to 15,000 cycles, while solid-state vehicle range targets up to 1,500 km.
The company previously targeted solid-state battery applications in vehicles as early as 2026, while Chairman Yin Tongyue said vehicle-level testing would begin in 2027. Pilot-line operation and vehicle validation are separate development stages, and Chery has not established a schedule for customer deliveries.
Chery completed construction of a 0.5 GWh pilot line for 60 Ah-class solid-state cells in February 2026 and issued equipment procurement tenders in early October. The company has not clarified whether the facility scheduled to begin operating in 2027 is the same pilot line, a separate installation, or a later commissioning stage.
The Rhinoceros S battery is listed with an energy density of 400 Wh/kg and an operating range from -40°C to 100°C. Chery also reported an internal thermal-box test at 200°C but did not provide the test duration, state of charge, or sample configuration.
Earlier reporting linked the 400 Wh/kg cell to a sulfide-based electrolyte and high-nickel ternary cathode. A separate development route targeting 600 Wh/kg uses an in-situ polymerized electrolyte and lithium-rich manganese cathode. Chery identified material-interface contact, pack integration, and its Dedicated Management System as engineering priorities.
The wider Rhinoceros portfolio includes liquid-electrolyte cells with a peak charging rate of 12C and a sustained average above 8C. These figures do not apply to the solid-state battery. Sodium-ion cells for commercial, industrial, and residential storage are rated for up to 15,000 cycles.
Chery also presented an ammonia-fueled solid oxide fuel cell system for stationary generation. The listed specifications include 60% electrical efficiency, 90% combined heat and power efficiency, adjustable output from 30% to 100%, and a 90-day deployment window. Proposed uses include decentralized generation and remote charging infrastructure.
Source: CarNewsChina.com
