Iran's situation once again reminds us that once China achieves a breakthrough in solid-state battery technology and widely applies it in new energy vehicles and energy storage, when future global conflicts arise, China can truly remain "calm and composed".

Recently, the situation in Iran has suddenly become tense. After the US and Israel took action, the supreme leader was gone, and the Revolutionary Guards directly closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking the daily transport of 20 million barrels of crude oil, causing global oil prices to surge sharply. This incident has made people realize how passive it is to have one's energy lifeline controlled. If China thoroughly develops solid-state batteries and widely applies them in cars and energy storage, regardless of external chaos, we can remain stable and no longer have to follow others' moods.

Speaking of Iran, it has the third largest oil reserves in the world, and originally had a strong position. However, long-term sanctions and this strait blockade have caused exports to stop completely. Foreign exchange income has plummeted, currency depreciation, and the economy is struggling. In the past, shadow fleets could bypass, but now it is completely blocked. At the negotiation table, it can only make step-by-step concessions. Whoever controls the energy channel holds the initiative, and this truth is now very clear.

China's energy structure is rich in coal, poor in oil, and scarce in gas. A large portion of annual crude oil imports go through the Malacca Strait. Any disturbance on that route immediately affects domestic logistics and industry. Transportation consumes more than six-tenths of petroleum, with private cars, trucks, and ships all relying on gasoline and diesel. When oil prices fluctuate, the market and people's lives are affected accordingly.

Solid-state batteries can solve this problem at its root. They can match fuel-powered cars in fast charging and range. Once new energy vehicles are widely adopted, dependence on overseas oil will drop sharply, significantly reducing pressure on the Malacca Strait. Production no longer needs to closely monitor lithium and rare earths; sulfur-based or lithium-free solutions can use domestic abundant materials, making the supply chain more stable.

Energy storage is even more critical. Solid-state batteries are resistant to high and low temperatures and have a long cycle life. With them, wind and solar power stations can stabilize fluctuations, allowing more reliance on local renewable energy. There is basically no need to worry about situations where fossil fuels are insufficient or cut off. The string of energy security can truly be relaxed.

The pace of domestic development is reassuring. In July 2026, the world's first national standard for vehicle solid-state batteries was implemented. Terminology classification and safety requirements were set. Dongfeng Motor's pilot line has been built, and a 350Wh/kg solid-liquid hybrid battery plan is scheduled for mass production and installation in the same year, enabling the vehicle to run 1,000 kilometers. BYD and CATL aim for small-scale solid-state battery deployment by 2027, with other automakers also conducting sample verification.

Currently, solid-state batteries face cost and interface issues, but multiple routes are being researched simultaneously, including sulfide and oxide. As production scales up, costs will decrease, and prices will approach those of traditional lithium batteries, accelerating their adoption. The entire chain from materials to整车 has a high level of localization, and control is in our own hands.

Imagine the future: private cars can charge for a few minutes and get half a tank of electricity, trucks can quickly refuel at highway service areas, and ships can become electricized, eliminating the sound of diesel. These changes will gradually come true, significantly reducing China's reliance on overseas resources. Even if international conflicts arise, our energy base is strong, giving us more room to maneuver.

CATL has provided a lot of data in the pilot phase, supporting the formulation of national standards. Zeng Yuxin leads his team to overcome interface stability and cycle life challenges, driving the technology from laboratories to road testing. Multiple companies collaborate, and the industrial chain is becoming increasingly complete.

Once solid-state batteries are deployed in energy storage stations, grid stability improves, and the utilization rate of renewable energy increases. Even if there are fluctuations in external supply, domestic power can remain stable. With higher energy independence, the country's confidence in major issues becomes stronger.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858812963792908/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.