Li Auto says its solid-state battery program is moving from lab to road — but don't hold your breath for a full production car just yet. According to insiders cited by Cailian Press, the company expects small-batch vehicle integration capability by 2027 or 2028.

Liu Zhimin, Li Auto's senior director of powertrain battery, said the company has been building out its solid-state technology portfolio with multiple projects under development, and has already validated a solid-state cell prototype in — of all things — a pair of smart glasses. That's a classic Li Auto move: prove the chemistry in a low-stakes product before betting a family SUV on it.

But Liu was refreshingly candid about the gap between prototype and product. Getting solid-state batteries to mature mass production in a vehicle, with the kind of experience certainty users demand, will take an estimated five more years. "Currently, there are still challenges for solid-state batteries to simultaneously meet requirements on cycle life, charging performance, and cost," he said.

That's the honest read everyone in the industry quietly agrees with but few executives say out loud: solid-state is coming, yet the trifecta of longevity, fast charging, and affordable cost remains unsolved. Li Auto — a company whose entire brand rests on family users' trust in range and reliability — has every reason not to rush it.

Translation: expect the marketing to arrive well before the battery does.

— need a chat about China NEV market? mail me @ sheng.ye@ipsos.com