Panasonic Energy has developed a solid-state battery capable of operating up to 150°C, pushing 25 degrees past the company’s previous declared operating limit. The first samples will ship between October and December 2026, while large-scale production is still one to two years away.

The result comes as research into next-generation batteries accelerates, including potential applications in the automotive sector, where solid-state batteries could help store more energy relative to weight and size.

Panasonic’s breakthrough: a solid-state cell

Panasonic Energy, a division of the Panasonic Holdings conglomerate, has developed new solid-state cells. The company raised the maximum operating temperature of its battery packs from a previous 125°C to a tolerance of 150°C.

The group also introduced a design change, developing a small prismatic cell. According to CTO Shoichiro Watanabe, this configuration can simplify product design compared with the company’s earlier coin-shaped cells.

How solid-state technology works, and why it cuts fire risk

Panasonic Energy’s new cell also stands out from commercial systems on a key internal component. In conventional batteries, the electrolyte—the material that allows lithium ions to move within the cell during operation—is liquid. Solid-state batteries use a solid electrolyte instead. That change can offer certain design advantages and has drawn interest from the auto industry.

In lithium-ion batteries, damage or malfunction can trigger an uncontrolled rise in temperature known as thermal runaway, which in some cases can cause fires that spread to neighboring cells.

A solid electrolyte can reduce some of the risks associated with liquid materials, but it does not make batteries completely immune to fire risk.

From industrial machinery to humanoid robots: where will these batteries be used?

At this early stage, Panasonic does not plan to direct the new battery toward the mass automotive market. Its miniaturized size makes it suited to onboard vehicle sensors, which require greater heat resistance. Solid-state batteries also have applications in the medical sector, where surgical devices undergo autoclave sterilization cycles above 120°C.

At the same time, Panasonic is accelerating development of cylindrical variants aimed at humanoid robotics. That geometry makes it possible to fit cells into tight spaces or into the articulated joints of robot limbs, ensuring maximum energy stability and safety during movement.

What changes for the future of electric vehicles

Even though Panasonic initially intends to direct its first commercial batches toward industry and robotics, the development of this technology closely concerns the automotive sector.

One of the potential advantages of solid-state batteries is higher energy density, which allows more energy to be stored at the same weight or size. For electric vehicles, that would translate into greater range without a proportional increase in the size and weight of the battery pack.

Panasonic’s advance has stirred the global market, and a number of competitors have started following its lead, particularly in the automotive space. The Chinese group Chery (Chery Automobile), for instance, has announced a major investment in solid-state battery development and plans to begin testing in 2027. At the same time, Taiwan’s ProLogium Technology has announced the start of production of its lithium-ceramic cells and is working to expand production capacity in Europe as well.

However, before they can be deployed at scale in the automotive sector, solid-state batteries will need to combine high performance with reliable production at competitive costs.

Editor’s note

This article was originally published in Italian on money.it by Emanuela Ceccarelli on September 26, 2026 as «Batterie, arriva una tecnologia che resiste a 150 °C. Cosa cambia per le auto elettriche». It has been translated and adapted for an international audience by the Money.it International desk.