Chery outlined its Rhinoceros Battery roadmap at the 2026 Chery Global Innovation Conference on October 20, including a dedicated Rhinoceros S solid-state battery pilot line scheduled to enter operation in 2027, reports IT-Home.

The schedule adds a manufacturing milestone to Chery’s existing development plan. The company previously targeted solid-state battery applications in vehicles as early as 2026, while chairman Yin Tongyue said in September that vehicle-level testing would begin in 2027. Pilot-line operation and vehicle validation are separate stages, and neither establishes a date for customer deliveries.

The manufacturing timeline also needs context. 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. Chery has not clarified whether the line scheduled to enter operation in 2027 is that facility, a separate installation, or a further stage of commissioning.

Rhinoceros S specifications and development challenges

Chery lists the Rhinoceros S solid-state battery at 400 Wh/kg, with an operating temperature range of -40°C to 100°C. The company also reported an internal thermal-box test at 200°C. Still, it did not disclose the test duration, state of charge, or sample configuration needed to compare the result with standardised battery-safety tests.

The 400 Wh/kg figure is not new in itself. Chery previously presented solid-state technology targeting 600 Wh/kg. Its development programs use different electrolyte and cathode formulations: earlier reporting identifies a sulfide-based electrolyte and high-nickel ternary cathode for the 400 Wh/kg cell, compared with an in-situ polymerised electrolyte and lithium-rich manganese cathode for the 600 Wh/kg route. The figures therefore describe different technical approaches and should not be treated as directly comparable versions of the same cell.

Chery identified material-interface contact, battery-pack integration, and its proprietary Dedicated Management System (DMS) as engineering priorities. In solid-state cells, maintaining stable contact between the solid electrolyte and electrodes during repeated charging and discharging remains a key technical challenge.

The timing places Chery among several Chinese automakers and battery manufacturers targeting solid-state battery trial production or vehicle validation around 2027. CATL and BYD have both targeted small-scale solid-state battery production for that year. Their plans are at different development stages and do not indicate that any of the companies will reach mass production in 2027.

Liquid cells, sodium-ion storage and ammonia-fueled SOFC

The Rhinoceros portfolio also covers liquid-electrolyte cells and sodium-ion batteries for energy storage. Chery lists a peak charging rate of 12C and a sustained average above 8C for its liquid cells; these figures do not apply to the Rhinoceros S solid-state battery. Its sodium-ion storage cells are rated for up to 15,000 cycles in commercial, industrial, and residential applications.

For vehicles, Chery has outlined a long-term solid-state battery range target of up to 1,500 km. This remains a development target, not a confirmed range for a production vehicle.

Chery also presented an ammonia-fueled solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system for stationary power generation. The conference slides identify ammonia as the fuel and describe green ammonia produced using wind and solar power. They list electrical efficiency of 60%, combined heat and power (CHP) efficiency of 90%, adjustable output from 30% to 100%, and a 90-day deployment window.

Ammonia can serve as a hydrogen carrier for fuel-cell systems, but fuel processing and ammonia production affect overall efficiency and emissions. Using renewable electricity to produce ammonia does not, by itself, establish zero lifecycle emissions. An independent assessment of the stated efficiency figures would require more operating details.

Proposed applications include decentralised power generation and remote charging infrastructure. Their viability would depend on fuel supply and transport, installation requirements, electricity demand, and operating costs.

Source: CarNewsChina (View original)