Tech

Under The Hood

Deep dives into the technologies powering China's automotive lead: 800V platforms, LFP, semi-solid and solid-state batteries, megawatt flash charging, city NOA, smart cockpits and battery swapping.

800V High-Voltage Architecture

High-voltage (800V and above) platforms cut current for the same power, reducing charging time, heat and weight. They enable ultra-fast charging of 300 kW and above, and are the foundation for 5C charging and silicon-carbide (SiC) power electronics.

Companies

Xpeng

Representative models

Xpeng G9 (the company said it was China’s first mass-production 800V SiC platform)

Production timing

Xpeng G9 launched 21 September 2022, with deliveries from late October 2022.

Sources

[Xpeng, Aug 2022] [中证网, Sep 2022]

Silicon Carbide5C ChargingUltra-Fast

LFP Blade Battery & Cell-to-Body

BYD announced its lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) Blade battery in March 2020, with cells packed directly into the pack (cell-to-pack). CTB: no confirmed data.

Companies

BYD

Representative models

BYD Han EV (first Blade, 2020), Atto 3 / Seagull, Dolphin, Song Plus

Production timing

Blade battery unveiled March 2020 and mass-produced on the Han EV from mid-2020.

Sources

BYD official launch (March 2020).

LFPCell-to-PackThermal Safety

Semi-Solid & Solid-State Batteries

Semi-solid (oxide-route) cells — with a reduced liquid electrolyte — commercialised first, while fully solid-state (sulfide-route) cells remain the next step toward energy density beyond 400–500 Wh/kg.

Companies

WeLion, Qingtao, BYD

Representative models

NIO (WeLion 150 kWh pack), SAIC MG4 (Qingtao cells), BYD sulfide all-solid-state

Production timing

Semi-solid shipped at scale in 2025–2026; all-solid-state mass production is dated 2027 at the earliest, with BYD planning small-batch trials in roughly 1,000 vehicles around 2027.

Sources

[Battery-Tech, Oct 2026]

Semi-SolidAll-Solid-StateSulfide

Sodium-Ion Batteries

Sodium-ion cells trade a little energy density for lower cost, better cold-weather performance and abundant raw materials. They are commercialising first in energy storage, entry-level EVs and heavy vehicles.

Companies

CATL, BYD, HiNa Battery, EVE

Representative models

CATL–Changan sodium-ion passenger car (announced 5 Feb 2026; the plan stated that day was a mid-2026 launch; whether it was on sale by October 2026: no confirmed data); HiNa–Tonly 676 kWh sodium-ion mining truck (delivered to Sanyou Mining, July 2026)

Production timing

CATL began shipping sodium-ion cells in 2026 and signed a 60 GWh, three-year sodium-ion supply deal with HyperStrong on 27 April 2026; no completed storage delivery had been independently reported by early October 2026.

Sources

[Battery-Tech, Oct 2026]

Sodium-IonLow CostCold Weather

Megawatt Flash Charging

BYD’s Super e-Platform uses a 1,000V architecture. The company stated a peak charge rate of 1 MW (1,000 kW), about 2 km of range per second. On the Han L EV the flash-charge rate is 10C, stated as 5 minutes for 400 km. On the Tang L EV the rate is up to 8.4C, stated as 5 minutes for 370 km.

Companies

BYD (with Zeekr and Huawei also building ultra-fast charging networks)

Representative models

BYD Han L EV (10C; 5 minutes for 400 km), Tang L EV (up to 8.4C; 5 minutes for 370 km). Both went on sale on 9 April 2025.

Production timing

Announced 17 March 2025; Han L and Tang L launched on 9 April 2025; BYD had built 4,239 stations by 5 March 2026 and the 10,000th on 28 August 2026, with a year-end target of 20,000.

Sources

[央广网, Mar 2025] [Sina Finance, Apr 2025] [21jingji, Aug 2026]

1 MWHan L 10CTang L 8.4C

City NOA (Urban Smart Driving)

On 10 August 2022 XPeng said the G9 would carry what it called the industry’s first full-scenario advanced driver-assistance system.

Companies

Xpeng

Representative models

Xpeng G9

Production timing

At the 21 September 2022 launch, the company said the X version would be equipped with XNGP, and called end-to-end assisted driving across everyday scenes the intended end form. That was the plan stated at launch.

Sources

[Xpeng, Aug 2022] [中证网, Sep 2022]

Full-scenario ADASXNGP

Smart Cockpit

The AITO M5 was the first model to ship with Huawei’s HarmonyOS cockpit. The Xiaomi SU7’s car system runs HyperOS.

Companies

Huawei (HarmonyOS Cockpit), Xiaomi (HyperOS)

Representative models

AITO M5 (first HarmonyOS cockpit), Xiaomi SU7

Production timing

HarmonyOS Cockpit debuted on the AITO M5, announced on 23 December 2021, with deliveries from 5 March 2022. The Xiaomi SU7 was listed on 28 March 2024 with HyperOS.

Sources

[Sina Tech, Dec 2021] [CS.com.cn, Mar 2022] [CNR, Apr 2024]

HarmonyOSHyperOS

Battery Swapping

A swap station replaces a depleted pack with a charged one. China Youth Online reported on 23 October 2026 that CATL Choco-Swap completed a swap in 99 seconds.

Companies

NIO, CATL (Choco-Swap), Geely (signed a charging-and-swap cooperation with NIO on 28 September 2026)

Representative models

NIO ET5 / ES6 / ET9, Onvo L60; CATL Choco-Swap for entry EVs

Production timing

NIO has run swap stations since 2018 (4,099 stations by end-August 2026, per the China Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Promotion Alliance); CATL runs an open Choco-Swap (EVOGO) network for multiple brands.

Sources

[China Youth Online, Oct 2026] [site: NIO battery-swap bet]

Battery-as-a-Service99s Choco-SwapRobot Station