Beijing WeLion New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., known simply as WeLion New Energy or WeLion (Mandarin: 卫蓝; pinyin: Wèilán), is a Chinese battery manufacturer specializing in semi-solid and solid state batteries for use in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. The company is headquartered in the Beijing's Fangshan District, and is a spinoff from the Laboratory of Renewable Energy of the Institute of Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.[1] It is best known for supplying the world's first mass produced semi-solid-state battery cells for an automotive traction battery application, in the form of Nio's 150kWh swappable battery pack.
History
The company was established in 2016 by founders Chen Liquan (Professor at the Chinese Academy of Engineering), Li Hong (researcher at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Physics), and Yu Huigen (Senior Engineer).[2] Chen Liquan is known as the "father of Chinese lithium battery technology", and was a doctoral advisor to Robin Zeng, founder of CATL.[3] In August 2021, WeLion received a CN¥500 million (approximately US$78 million) investment from Geely, Huawei and Xiaomi. The investments are from Hubei Xiaomi Yangtze River Industry Investment Fund Partners (Changjiang Industrial Fund and Xiaomi fund launched in 2017) and Shenzhen Hubble Technology Investment Partners (a Huawei venture capital subsidiary), and Ningbo Geely Blue Initiative Business Management Partners (a Geely Holding Group subsidiary). The investments put WeLion's valuation at CN¥5 billion (approximately US$780 million).[4][5][6]
On November 4, 2022 WeLion disclosed that it had secured CN¥1.5 billion (approximately US$209 million) in Series D financing.[7][8][9]
In December 2025, it was revealed through filings that WeLion had agreed to undergo pre-IPO tutoring for a potential listing on the ChiNext stock exchange.[10][11]
In a televised interview in December 2025, WeLion chairman Yu Huigen stated that the company had created solid-state batteries with an energy density of 824 Wh/kg in laboratory conditions, and that the company was aiming to exceed 1000 Wh/kg as a long term goal.[3]
Partnerships
Nio
On January 9, 2021, at Nio's 'Nio Day 2020' event, Nio announced that a 150kWh semi-solid state battery pack would later be made available. Later, it was revealed that WeLion would be the supplier of the battery cells. On June 30, 2023, Nio received the first shipments of the battery cells, and the packs first became available for rent by the public in mid-2024. The semi-solid state battery cells allow for a 50% higher energy capacity, with an energy density of 360Wh/kg, in the same dimensions compared to a conventional pack, with only a minor 20 kg weight increase, allowing for a range of 1050 km range in the ET7 sedan.
Tianqi Lithium
On May 20, 2021 WeLion signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Tianqi Lithium to form a joint venture. The aim of the joint venture is to develop, produce and sell lithium anode materials, and manufacturing equipment and ingredients for battery pre-lithiation processes.[12][13]
Ronbay Technology
In April 2022, WeLion signed a five-year agreement with Ronbay Technology for the supply of at least 30,000 tons of battery cathode materials. The agreement stipulates that Ronbay will be WeLion's primary supplier of high-nickel cathode materials for use in NMC chemistry solid-state batteries.[1][14]
JAC Yiwei
On April 22, 2024 WeLion and JAC signed an agreement for the supply of semi-solid state battery cells for use in Yiwei brand cars. The batteries will be cylindrical 4695 format cells, and will be used in Yiwei's second generation DI platform, with the first vehicle expected to launch in 2025.[15][16]
Longquan Energy Storage
On June 6, 2024 the Longquan Energy Storage project located near Longquan, Zhejiang was connected to the grid. The now operational first phase has a capacity of 200MWh and an output of 100MW and uses WeLion's semi-solid state cells, making it the world's first large scale use of semi-solid state batteries in a battery energy storage system context. The project is run by state-owned Power China, and is eventually planned to have a 400MWh capacity and 200MW output on the 40-acre site. It uses LFP solid-liquid hybrid electrolyte battery cells with a cell capacity of 280Ah, energy density of 165Wh/kg, a rated lifespan of 6000 cycles, and an operating range between -20-60 C. Annual discharge is estimated to be over 60,000GWh.[17][18]
Facilities
WeLion is headquartered in Beijing and currently has four production facilities located throughout China.[19]
Beijing Fangshan Base
- Headquarters, R&D and solid-state battery mass production
- 4.66 + 10.1ha
- 8GWh capacity
- 2025
Zibo Base, Shandong
On February 25, 2022 WeLion held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new battery factory project in the city of Zibo located in eastern Shandong.[20] The project involves a total investment of CN¥40 billion (US$6.3 billion) in a 550mu (36.7ha) facility, resulting in a projected annual capacity of 100 GWh. The first phase of the project involved CN¥10.2 billion (US$1.61 billion) of investment and is be capable of 20 GWh of annual capacity, and was completed in September 2023; it will manufacture semi-solid and solid-state batteries. At the time, WeLion claimed that the facility has the highest safety factor and energy density in China.[21]
- Energy storage base
- (550mu)
- 20GWh capacity (energy storage applications)
- September 2023 (Phase 1)
- semi-solid state and solid state battery cells
Liyang, Jiangsu Base
Manufactures 320Wh/kg low cost power batteries for use in low-altitude applications, such as drones, robots and portable power supplies, according to WeLion's website.[19]
- Low-altitude economic power base
- 2.53ha
- 0.2GWh capacity
- August 2020
Huzhou, Zhejiang base
This facility manufactures semi-solid state power batteries for use in electric vehicles. Construction of this factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang began in 2021, and was completed in Q3 of 2022. On November 22, 2022 WeLion held a ceremony commemorating the production of the first battery cell on the production line at the facility.[22] On June 30, 2023 WeLion held a ceremony at the Huzhou factory for their first delivery of battery cells to Nio. The cells use a semi-solid state electrolyte, and have an energy density of 360Wh/kg, and are used in a 150kWh swappable battery pack made by Nio.[23][24]
WeLion's R&D center for the Yangtze River Delta region is also located in Huzhou, and its completion was also announced at the ceremony.[24]
- Car power base
- 4.66 + 33.3ha
- 2 + 20GWh capacity
- Q3 2022 + Q4 2025
Shaoxing, Zhejiang pulp base
Supplies battery materials for final manufacture at the nearby Huzhou factory.
- Solid state materials and solid state battery production base project
- 1.5ha
- 10,000 tons capacity
- End of 2023 production date
Shaoxing, Zhejiang pulp base
Supplies battery materials for final manufacture at the nearby Huzhou factory.
- Solid state materials and solid state battery production base project
- 1.5ha
- 10,000 tons capacity
- End of 2023 production date
Shenzhen Pingshan, Guangdong
- Solid-state battery R&D base
- 5742m2
- 600MWh capacity
- March 2025
References
- Ronbay Will Supply Cathode Materials to WeLion for Development of Solid-State EV Batteries - EnergyTrend www.energytrend.com, retrieved 2024-11-23^
- WELION New Energy's 360Wh/kg Battery Cell Leads the Era of 1,000-Kilometer Driving Range news.metal.com, 2025-08-19, retrieved 2025-12-16^
- Liu Miao. China battery company Welion achieves 824 Wh/kg energy density in lab, targets 1000 Wh/kg CarNewsChina.com, 2025-12-16, retrieved 2025-12-16^
- Xiaomi, Huawei, Geely-backed firms invest in solid-state battery maker WeLion autonews.gasgoo.com, retrieved 2024-11-18^
- Phate Zhang. Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion secures investments from Xiaomi, Huawei CnEVPost, 2022-03-28, retrieved 2024-11-18^
- Pandaily. Xiaomi and Huawei to Invest in NIO Battery Supplier Welion New Energy, Sources Say Pandaily, 2021-11-26, retrieved 2024-11-18^
- Lei Kang. Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion closes about $200 million in new funding CnEVPost, 2022-11-07, retrieved 2024-11-18^
- China's Welion snags $206m in a Series D round to expand its production line DealStreetAsia, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- WeLion collects €200 million in funding BatteryIndustry.net, 2022-11-15, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- Phate Zhang. WeLion, Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier, begins pre-IPO tutoring for onshore listing CnEVPost, 2025-12-11, retrieved 2025-12-16^
- WeLion New Energy, NIO’s semi-solid battery supplier, files for IPO chinaevhome.com, 2025-12-12, retrieved 2025-12-16^
- Phate Zhang. Lithium giant Tianqi to form JV with Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion CnEVPost, 2022-05-21, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- Phate Zhang. Tianqi Lithium forms JV with Nio's solid-state battery supplier WeLion CnEVPost, 2022-08-19, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- Phate Zhang. Nio's semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion signs deal for 30,000 tons of cathode material CnEVPost, 2022-04-26, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- raza. Nio - semi-solid-state battery supplier WeLion and JAC unit to jointly make EVs with up to 1,000 km range Batteries News, 2024-04-24, retrieved 2024-11-18^
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- World's first large scale semi-solid-state energy storage project connected to the grid (Industry update) Rho Motion, retrieved 2024-11-18^
- Marija Maisch. World's first grid-scale, semi-solid-state energy storage project goes online pv magazine International, 2024-07-05, retrieved 2024-11-18^
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- Rumoured Nio supplier WeLion to make solid-state cells in Zibo electrive.com, retrieved 2024-11-21^
- Phate Zhang. WeLion, Nio's rumored solid-state battery supplier, starts construction of 100 GWh project CnEVPost, 2022-03-02, retrieved 2024-11-21^
- Phate Zhang. Nio supplier WeLion sees 1st solid-state battery cell roll off line CnEVPost, 2022-11-24, retrieved 2024-11-21^
- WeLion completed its first semi-solid-state battery cell electrive.com, retrieved 2024-11-20^
- Phate Zhang. Nio starts to get cells from WeLion, as deliveries of 150-kWh batteries set to begin in Jul CnEVPost, 2023-07-01, retrieved 2024-11-21^