The Chinese leading EV manufacturer did not tell investors about the source of the battery – but CATL came as a possible provider.
On January 9, 2021, 'NIO Day,' NIO announced that it would launch solid-state batteries with a battery density of 360 Wh/kg and a range of more than 1,000 km in the fourth quarter of 2022. Although the battery is called a solid-state battery, it is still a semi-solid battery with a solid-liquid mix structure.
Technically, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of traditional liquid electrolytes. Because there is no electrolytes, the battery cannot easily be set on fire and will explode after being punctured. Security should be greatly improved. In addition, a solid-state battery is superior to a liquid lithium battery in endurance and charging efficiency. For example, nowadays, the upper limit of the energy density of liquid electrolyte batteries in the industry is 300 Wh/kg, but the limit of the energy density of solid batteries may reach 500 Wh/kg.
Stimulated by this news, NIO stocks surged to USD 62.70, reaching a historical high. At the same time, as a possible battery provider for NIO, CATL stocks kept falling and went back to CNY 390 levels on January 11, 2021.