Is SOLiCORE a true solid-state battery, or a semi-solid one?
Semi-solid. SOLiCORE uses a LiFePOâ‚„ chemistry with a composite polymer electrolyte, substantially reduced free liquid electrolyte compared with a conventional lithium cell, which raises thermal runaway onset temperature and improves abuse tolerance. It is not a true all-solid-state battery, and we would rather say so plainly than let the category confusion do the selling.
Here is the state of the technology in 2026, because the marketing around it has become unreliable:
- True all-solid-state batteries are not commercially available at any scale. Products marketed as “solid-state” are, in practice, semi-solid or quasi-solid: a polymer matrix electrolyte, sometimes with ceramic fillers, retaining some liquid component.
- The largest cell manufacturers place solid-state at around technology readiness level 4 of 9, in laboratory validation and prototype engineering, with no large-scale production expected before 2030. The core obstacle is the solid-solid interface. Materials of differing compaction density misalign under the extreme isostatic pressing required, which raises internal resistance.
- Semi-solid cells can still enter thermal runaway, though comparative testing shows a higher onset temperature. The correct conclusion is that safety is enhanced, not absolute, and thermal management and protection systems remain essential.
What that means for you as a specifier. The right questions to ask any supplier making a solid-state claim are: what is the electrolyte, in what proportion; what is the measured thermal runaway onset temperature; and which test reports do you hold? Ask for the report, not the marketing name. SOLiCORE is certified to IEC 62619, UN 38.3 and UL 1973, and tested to UL 9540A. We will provide the documentation.
Note also that in Australia this is not merely a technical debate. Fire and Rescue NSW was reported in June 2026 to have stated that cell- and module-level UL 9540A test results do not in isolation represent the credible fire scenario for an enclosed compartment. No electrolyte claim, ours included, substitutes for correct fire engineering.