WeLion

WeLion, formally Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese battery technology and manufacturing company focused on semi-solid and solid-state batteries. The company is headquartered in Beijing's Fangshan District and emerged from the Laboratory of Renewable Energy at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its work centers on battery cells intended to increase energy density, improve safety, and support new electric-mobility and energy-storage applications. The company was established in 2016 by Chen Liquan, Li Hong, and Yu Huigen. Chen Liquan, an academician and prominent figure in Chinese lithium-battery research, is associated with the development of China's battery science ecosystem; Li Hong was a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics; and Yu Huigen became one of WeLion's senior executives and public representatives. This research-oriented origin has shaped WeLion's positioning as a technology company seeking to commercialize advanced electrolyte and solid-state battery designs rather than competing primarily as a commodity cell producer. WeLion became internationally visible through its relationship with Nio. At Nio's Nio Day 2020 event, held in January 2021, Nio announced a 150 kWh battery pack using semi-solid-state technology. WeLion was subsequently identified as the cell supplier. The pack was designed for Nio's battery-swapping ecosystem and was associated with the ET7 sedan, whose claimed range with the pack reached approximately 1,050 kilometers under the relevant test conditions. WeLion's cells were described as having an energy density of about 360 Wh/kg, enabling substantially greater capacity within dimensions comparable to a conventional pack. The first cells were delivered to Nio in June 2023, while public rental availability followed later. The company has also developed a broader industrial network. In 2021, it agreed to establish a joint venture with a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium covering lithium-anode materials, manufacturing equipment, and ingredients used in battery pre-lithiation. In 2022, WeLion signed a long-term supply agreement with Ronbay Technology for high-nickel cathode materials intended for nickel-manganese-cobalt solid-state battery chemistry. In 2024, it agreed to supply semi-solid-state cells to JAC for vehicles under the Yiwei brand. These partnerships indicate an effort to secure materials, develop manufacturing inputs, and expand beyond a single vehicle customer. WeLion's manufacturing footprint includes facilities in Beijing, Zibo in Shandong, Huzhou and Shaoxing in Zhejiang, Liyang in Jiangsu, and a solid-state battery research base in Shenzhen. The Huzhou facility is associated with vehicle-power cells and the first delivery of cells to Nio. The Zibo project is intended to serve energy-storage applications and to manufacture semi-solid and solid-state cells. Other sites support battery materials, low-altitude power systems, research, and additional production capacity. The company also participates in stationary storage. In June 2024, the first phase of the Longquan Energy Storage project in Zhejiang was connected to the grid. The project uses WeLion semi-solid cells and was described as the first large-scale battery-energy-storage deployment using this technology. The initial phase was reported as having 200 MWh of capacity and 100 MW of output, with a later expansion planned. The cells used in that project employ a liquid-solid hybrid electrolyte and are optimized differently from the high-energy-density cells supplied for premium electric vehicles. WeLion has attracted investment from industrial and technology groups, including Geely, Huawei, and Xiaomi-affiliated investment entities. It disclosed Series D financing in November 2022. Filings reported in December 2025 indicated that the company had entered pre-IPO tutoring for a possible ChiNext listing, although a completed listing is not established here. In the same month, chairman Yu Huigen described laboratory solid-state cells with an energy density of 824 Wh/kg and stated that exceeding 1,000 Wh/kg was a long-term objective. Those figures refer to laboratory conditions and should not be treated as proof of mass-production performance. WeLion's competitive proposition is built around advanced battery chemistry, high energy density, solid-state safety claims, and integration with battery-swapping and grid-storage systems. Its principal challenges include scaling laboratory results into reliable mass production, controlling materials costs, meeting automotive safety and durability requirements, and competing with larger battery manufacturers. The brand remains primarily business-to-business: consumers generally encounter WeLion through the vehicles, battery packs, or storage systems of partner companies rather than through a standalone retail product.

WeLion was founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the Laboratory of Renewable Energy at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Its founding team included Chen Liquan, Li Hong, and Yu Huigen. The company's institutional origins gave it a research-heavy profile and directed its work toward advanced lithium-battery materials, semi-solid electrolytes, and solid-state battery systems. A major early development was WeLion's move from laboratory research toward industrial partnerships. In May 2021, it agreed with a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium to establish a joint venture focused on lithium-anode materials, related manufacturing equipment, and ingredients used in battery pre-lithiation. In August of the same year, investment from entities associated with Geely, Huawei, and Xiaomi provided additional strategic backing. In April 2022, WeLion signed a five-year agreement with Ronbay Technology for the supply of high-nickel cathode materials, supporting its work on nickel-manganese-cobalt solid-state battery chemistry. The company's most prominent automotive relationship is with Nio. Nio announced a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery pack at its January 2021 Nio Day event, and WeLion later emerged as the cell supplier. The cells were designed to provide higher energy capacity without a proportionate increase in pack dimensions. WeLion reported an energy density of approximately 360 Wh/kg for the cells. Production and delivery milestones followed at the Huzhou facility: the first production-line cell was commemorated in November 2022, and the first shipment to Nio took place on June 30, 2023. The resulting battery pack was integrated into Nio's battery-swapping system and was later made available to users through rental arrangements. WeLion expanded its production infrastructure during this period. Construction began on a large project in Zibo, Shandong, in 2022. The planned site was intended to support energy-storage production and to manufacture semi-solid and solid-state cells. Its first phase was reported as completed in September 2023. Huzhou, Zhejiang, became the company's vehicle-power base, while Shaoxing was planned as a nearby materials and pulp base. Liyang in Jiangsu served lower-capacity power applications such as drones, robots, and portable power supplies. A Shenzhen Pingshan site was developed as a solid-state battery research base. WeLion's technology was subsequently applied to stationary storage. On June 6, 2024, the first phase of the Longquan Energy Storage project in Zhejiang was connected to the grid. The project used WeLion semi-solid cells in a large-scale storage setting and was described as the first deployment of its type at that scale. The initial phase was reported at 200 MWh and 100 MW, with a larger eventual configuration planned. Its cells use a liquid-solid hybrid electrolyte and are optimized for cycle life, temperature tolerance, and grid operation rather than solely for maximum vehicle range. In April 2024, WeLion reached an agreement with JAC to supply cylindrical 4695-format semi-solid cells for JAC's Yiwei vehicles. The first related vehicle was expected to launch in 2025, subject to the manufacturer's product schedule. This agreement broadened WeLion's automotive customer base beyond Nio. By late 2025, filings reportedly showed that WeLion had begun pre-IPO tutoring for a possible ChiNext listing. In a December 2025 televised interview, chairman Yu Huigen stated that the company had achieved a laboratory solid-state-cell energy density of 824 Wh/kg and was targeting more than 1,000 Wh/kg over the long term. These statements concern laboratory performance and future objectives, not confirmed mass-production specifications. WeLion's history therefore reflects the commercialization path of an advanced-battery enterprise: academic research, strategic investment, supply-chain partnerships, vehicle-program validation, and expansion into grid storage. Its future development depends on its ability to manufacture solid-state products consistently, meet automotive qualification standards, manage materials and production costs, and convert high laboratory energy-density claims into durable commercial products.

• 2024

  Longquan storage project goes online

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  A large-scale Zhejiang storage project using WeLion semi-solid cells is connected to the grid.

• 2024

  JAC Yiwei supply agreement

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  WeLion agrees to supply semi-solid-state cells for selected JAC Yiwei vehicles.

• 2023

  First cells delivered to Nio

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  WeLion makes the first delivery of cells for Nio's 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery pack.

• 2022

  Zibo battery project begins

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  WeLion holds a groundbreaking ceremony for a large Shandong production project intended to serve energy-storage applications.

• 2022

  Series D financing disclosed

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  WeLion announces that it has secured Series D financing.

• 2022

  First Huzhou production-line cell

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  The company marks production of the first cell on its Huzhou vehicle-power line.

• 2021

  Nio announces a 150 kWh semi-solid-state battery pack

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  Nio presents a future 150 kWh semi-solid-state pack, later identified as using WeLion cells.

• 2021

  Strategic investment round

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  Investment from entities associated with Geely, Huawei, and Xiaomi supports WeLion's development.

• 2016

  WeLion is established

  [1]WeLionen.wikipedia.org

  The company is founded as a spin-off associated with the Laboratory of Renewable Energy at the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

A research-led Chinese advanced-battery manufacturer positioned around semi-solid and solid-state technology, high energy density, electric-vehicle battery swapping, and large-scale energy storage.

• Electric-vehicle batteries · 2023

  Semi-solid-state automotive battery cells

  WeLion's best-known commercial product family consists of semi-solid-state cells for electric vehicles. The cells supplied for Nio's 150 kWh swappable pack were reported at approximately 360 Wh/kg and were designed to provide substantially more capacity within a package compatible with Nio's battery-swapping architecture. The technology is intended to balance higher energy density with manufacturability compared with a fully solid-state cell.

• Advanced batteries

  Solid-state battery cells

  WeLion develops solid-state battery cells and related materials as a longer-term technology platform. Public statements have emphasized laboratory energy-density results and future targets, while the company's production sites are also intended to manufacture solid-state cells. Commercial specifications, volumes, and broad customer availability are not fully established in the supplied material.

• Grid energy storage · 2024

  Energy-storage battery cells

  For stationary storage, WeLion supplies semi-solid or liquid-solid hybrid electrolyte cells designed for grid-connected systems. Cells used at the Longquan project were reported at 280 Ah, 165 Wh/kg, and a rated life of 6,000 cycles, with an operating range of approximately minus 20 to 60 degrees Celsius. These specifications serve a different optimization target from high-range automotive cells.

• Specialty batteries · 2020

  Low-altitude application power batteries

  The Liyang base is associated with lower-cost power batteries for low-altitude and compact powered systems, including drones, robots, and portable power supplies. The company has described cells in this area with energy density around 320 Wh/kg, although detailed product names and customer programs are not specified in the supplied material.

• 2024

  Deploy semi-solid cells in grid storageProduct launch

  Background

  The Longquan project required high-capacity stationary batteries for grid-connected storage.

  Action taken

  WeLion supplied semi-solid cells for the project's first operational phase.

  Aftermath

  The project connected to the grid in June 2024 and became a prominent demonstration of semi-solid technology outside automotive use.

  Source

• 2024

  Broaden automotive customer coverage through JAC YiweiStrategy

  Background

  WeLion's initial high-profile vehicle relationship was with Nio, creating a rationale for adding another automotive platform.

  Action taken

  WeLion agreed to supply cylindrical 4695-format semi-solid cells for JAC Yiwei vehicles using the second-generation DI platform.

  Aftermath

  The first related vehicle was expected in 2025, although subsequent launch details are not established in the supplied material.

  Source

• 2022

  Expand into large-scale energy-storage manufacturingStrategy

  Background

  WeLion sought production capacity beyond vehicle batteries and began developing a major Zibo facility.

  Action taken

  The company initiated a Shandong project intended to manufacture semi-solid and solid-state cells for energy-storage applications.

  Aftermath

  The first phase was reported as completed in September 2023, creating a dedicated energy-storage manufacturing base.

  Source

• 2021

  Commercialize a 150 kWh semi-solid-state automotive pack through NioProduct launch

  Background

  Nio sought a substantially higher-capacity battery compatible with its battery-swapping system.

  Action taken

  WeLion supplied semi-solid-state cells for Nio's 150 kWh swappable pack, with deliveries beginning in 2023.

  Aftermath

  The program gave WeLion a prominent automotive commercialization reference and enabled a long-range Nio ET7 configuration.

  Source

1. 1WeLionen.wikipedia.org