Saft, a TotalEnergies subsidiary, launches France's first solid-state battery production line, targeting aviation and space with safer, higher-energy batteries.
New production in France
On October 19, 2026, Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, inaugurated new production lines for solid-state batteries at its Bordeaux site. This marks the first such production in France and is intended to lead to a wide range of applications with next-generation batteries.Saft's technological claim
Saft claims to be "the first French manufacturer to have development and production capabilities for solid-state batteries combining sulfide and polymer technologies at ambient temperature." The production line is expected to achieve an energy density close to 400 Wh/kg, with the goal of exceeding 500 Wh/kg in a few years.Solid-state battery benefits
Solid-state batteries replace traditional liquid electrolyte with a solid electrolyte, offering increased safety by eliminating flammable components, lower weight, and energy densities up to 50% higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries. The manufacturing process is also expected to be more environmentally responsible, reducing up to 40% of CO2 emissions, particularly during the production of electrodes by dry methods.Environmental and process advantages
The absence of solvents would also make them cleaner. These solid-state batteries are intended to accompany the electrification and decarbonization of two particular sectors, where safety and performance are central, namely aviation and space.Applications in aviation and space
Saft states that it has "already taken the first step with the delivery of semi-solid cells to evaluate future architectures of electric and hybrid aircraft." Cédric Duclos, CEO of Saft, emphasized the importance of public authorities' support to stay competitive, noting that "this industry needs a lot of investments. Europe will also have to make its choices, support its sovereign subsidiaries to avoid worsening its dependence on foreign imports."
