WeLion New Energy and Its Semi-Solid-State Batteries
The Chinese company is making liquid-solid hybrid cells to pack more power into products like electric cars and cargo ships.
By You Xiaoying | October 6, 2026
Part of MIT Technology Review's 10 Climate Tech Companies to Watch 2026.
Overview
WeLion New Energy, a Chinese battery manufacturer, has earned a place among the standout climate tech companies of 2026 for its work on semi-solid-state batteries. The company specializes in liquid-solid hybrid cells—a design that blends the energy density advantages of solid-state chemistry with the manufacturability of conventional lithium-ion production—to deliver more power per unit of weight and volume.
Why Semi-Solid-State Batteries Matter
As the global push for electrification intensifies, batteries must do more: store more energy, weigh less, and charge faster. Fully solid-state batteries have long been hailed as the ideal solution, but they remain expensive and technically difficult to mass-produce. Semi-solid-state batteries offer a pragmatic middle path, incorporating a gel-like or semi-solid electrolyte that improves safety and energy density while remaining compatible with much of today's existing manufacturing infrastructure.
Applications: From Electric Cars to Cargo Ships
WeLion's liquid-solid hybrid cells are designed for high-demand applications, including:
- Electric vehicles (EVs), where greater range and lighter packs are constant priorities.
- Cargo ships, a notoriously hard-to-decarbonize sector that requires immense energy storage in confined spaces.
- Emerging mobility and industrial platforms that demand higher performance than conventional lithium-ion cells can deliver.
2026 Context
WeLion's inclusion in MIT Technology Review's 2026 list of climate tech companies to watch reflects a broader industry shift: investors and manufacturers are moving beyond incremental improvements to conventional lithium-ion and betting on hybrid and solid-state designs to unlock the next generation of electrification. As governments tighten emissions targets and shipping and aviation face mounting pressure to decarbonize, semi-solid-state cells are positioned as a near-term bridge technology with real commercial potential.
Image: A worker at a bench in a battery factory. Credit: Yi Fan/VCG via AP Images.