WeLion and JAC Yiwei will work together to develop a model powered by 4695 large cylindrical semi-solid battery cells with a range of 600 km to 1,000 km.

(Image credit: WeLion)

Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology, a supplier of semi-solid-state batteries to Nio (NYSE: NIO), and an electric vehicle (EV) unit of Anhui Jianghuai Automobile Group (JAC) have reached an agreement to jointly develop long-range cars.

WeLion signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Yiwei, the EV arm of JAC, on April 22, according to a statement from the battery startup yesterday.

The two companies will collaborate on the development of an EV model powered by 4695 large cylindrical semi-solid-state battery cells based on Yiwei's second-generation, all-electric, DI platform, according to the statement.

Powered by the new solid-state battery technology, the model will have a range of 600 km to 1,000 km and is scheduled for mass production in 2025, WeLion said.

The signing is the beginning of a deep collaboration between the two companies on semi-solid-state battery products, which will accelerate the technological upgrading and industrialization of semi-solid-state batteries, WeLion said.

Founded in 2016 and headquartered in Beijing, WeLion delivered the first batch of 360 Wh/kg semi-solid state battery cells to Nio on June 30, 2023.

Nio announced the 150-kWh semi-solid-state battery when it unveiled the ET7 sedan at the January 9, 2021 Nio Day 2020 event.

Earlier this month, Nio founder, chairman, and CEO William Li said the 150-kWh battery pack would be in service starting in late April.

On April 16, Nio conducted a new range challenge using three ET7s equipped with the 150-kWh battery pack, achieving a real-world range of up to 1,070 kilometers.

JAC launched its new brand Yiwei on April 12, 2023 and made the brand's first model, the Yiwei 3, available on June 16.

On January 5, Yiwei began deliveries of a new variant of the Yiwei 3 powered by sodium-ion batteries, with a pack capacity of 23.2 kWh and a CLTC range of 230 km.

($1 = RMB 7.2454)

Nio ET7 with 150-kWh battery achieves 1,070 km in real-life range challenge