Saft launches France’s first solid-state battery production lines

Saft, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, has inaugurated France’s first industrial pilot production lines for solid-state batteries at its research site in Bordeaux. This move transitions the company from experimental research to industrial capacity, aiming to establish France and Europe as leaders in this strategic technology.

The new production lines utilize both sulphide and polymer solid electrolyte technologies that function at room temperature. By replacing flammable liquid electrolytes with solid materials, these batteries offer increased safety and significantly higher energy density. Saft reported achieving approximately 400 Wh/kg with cells from the pilot line, targeting 500 Wh/kg in the coming years, compared to the 250–300 Wh/kg typical of current lithium-ion cells.

Targeting the aviation and space sectors, the production process employs a dry electrode method. This approach is intended to be more environmentally responsible, potentially reducing CO2 emissions during the production stage by up to 40 per cent. CEO Cedric Duclos described the development as a “technological breakthrough” that turns years of research into real industrial capacity.