Svolt launches semi-solid battery production

On 26 October 2026, Svolt, a Chinese battery manufacturer previously owned by Great Wall Motor, began mass production of its semi-solid Dragon Armor 100 kWh battery in Changzhou. This battery is designed to add 500 km of range in just 12 minutes, a claim that could significantly impact the electric vehicle industry.

Dragon Armor battery's technical features

The Dragon Armor battery is a hybrid of solid and liquid components, featuring a 900 V architecture and a 6C charge acceptance, which is an exceptionally high charging rate for a passenger vehicle. Svolt claims it has developed a "cell-level separator transfer-printing" technology, combined with liquid cooling, to manage temperature more effectively during fast charging. The battery pack also includes six layers of protection, offering shock resistance three times higher than the standard set by Chinese regulations.

Svolt's background and market position

Svolt was established in 2012 as a battery division of Great Wall Motor and became an independent company in 2018, though it remains a key supplier and strategic partner to the manufacturer. According to China EV DataTracker, Svolt installed 11.27 GWh of batteries in China between January and September 2026, giving it about 2% of the market share. The company had aimed to begin mass production of these semi-solid batteries as early as May 2026, with a target start date of September 2026.

Safety and performance improvements

The Dragon Armor battery is designed to reduce the risk of fire in electric vehicles by physically separating electrical terminals from fire channels, directing flames downward in case of thermal runaway. Svolt also claims a 25% reduction in the risk of thermal runaway under extreme conditions, achieved by increasing the temperature at which the cell begins to self-heat by 8 °C. The battery can charge quickly, with a 900-volt architecture and 6C charging allowing it to recover 500 km of range in 12 minutes, though the company has not specified the homologation cycle or initial charge level.

Battery longevity and potential applications

Svolt highlights the battery's longevity, with a theoretical lifespan exceeding one million kilometers and up to 3,000 charging cycles. The six layers of mechanical and electronic protection, combined with the internal architecture, are expected to limit damage from impacts, offering three times the protection level of current Chinese government standards. While the large SUV Wey V8X BEV from Great Wall Motor is suggested as a possible candidate, this has not been officially confirmed. Svolt’s CEO, Yang Hongxin, states that several manufacturers have reserved the battery, and affected models will be announced soon.

Svolt's market presence and international operations

Svolt remains a smaller player in the Chinese market, with 11.27 GWh of batteries installed between January and September 2026, representing 2% of the market. The launch of the Dragon Armor battery came a month later than the company’s previously announced schedule, which aimed for September. In France, Svolt is known for supplying batteries to the Citroën ë-C3, but it closed its European subsidiaries in January 2025 and abandoned plans for factories in Germany. At this stage, Svolt has not announced any models equipped with Dragon Armor for Europe.