Breakthrough: new battery twice as powerful as Tesla's
Chinese researchers develop 600 Wh/kg battery.
Published on August 18, 2025
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Researchers at Tianjin University in China have developed a new lithium-metal battery. It has an energy density of 600 Wh/kg, making it approximately twice as powerful as the best Tesla batteries (300 Wh/kg).
With such a battery, electric cars could have a range two to four times greater than today. The car will also be lighter. In addition, this could lead to better performance and greater efficiency. It also opens doors for other forms of electric transport, such as aircraft.
A new approach
The team at Tianjin University came up with a new approach. They changed the usual structure of lithium ions. Normally, each ion is fixed in a fixed arrangement of molecules. Now the ion can move more flexibly. They also used machine learning to find the best combination of lithium salts and solvents. Fluorine was added to make the electrolyte highly heat-resistant and safe. The result: a battery with enormous energy density that is also extremely safe. It even works at -60 °C without freezing.
Testing with drones
The battery was tested in drones. The flight time was 2.8 times longer. The battery also survived 25 full charges without any problems.
Breakthrough for EVs and aviation?
The battery is still in the proof-of-concept phase. Tests show that it stores twice as much energy, is safe, and has potential for cars and aircraft. When scaled up, this could be a breakthrough for EVs and aviation.
