It is very true that the automotive industry has repeated the same mantra: the biggest obstacle for electric cars is not power or design, but the battery.

Limited range and performance loss in cold climates have been two of the These are the most common arguments used by skeptics to defend the idea that internal combustion still has a long way to go. Chery, one of the silent giants of the Chinese automotive sector, has just unveiled a project that seeks to dismantle these certainties in one fell swoop.

Its name is Liefeng, and it's not just a futuristic design exercise. It's an electric shooting brake model that, according to the brand, will be able to travel up to 1,500 kilometers on a single charge, even when the temperature drops to -30°C. A figure that not only easily surpasses current electric vehicles, but also ventures into territory that until now seemed reserved for laboratory promises.

The company, owner of brands like Omoda and Jaecoo, plans to bring this vehicle to production in 2027. But beyond the timeline, the announcement has attracted attention for the type of technology it employs: a new-generation solid-state battery that directly addresses the heart of the electric car's historical problems.

A game-changing battery

The central element of the Chery Liefeng is its energy storage system. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, it uses a solid electrolyte that allows for increased energy density and improved thermal stability.

Chery claims that this battery exceeds 600 Wh/kg, a figure well above the typical values ??in current production models.

This translates into more energy stored in less volume and weight, a key combination for achieving such long ranges without significantly increasing the size of the battery pack. Another crucial aspect is safety.The solid electrolyte drastically reduces the risk of fire due to overheating or structural damage after an impact,one of the recurring fears associated with electric vehicles. For the Chinese manufacturer, this advancement is not just an incremental improvement, but the necessary step for electric vehicles to no longer be perceived as products limited by technical constraints. Extreme performance in sub-zero temperatures: If there is one area where current electric vehicles show their greatest weakness, it is winter. In intensely cold conditions, many batteries can lose up to almost half of their effective capacity, drastically reducing their real-world range. Chery claims that the Liefeng maintains its 1,500-kilometer range even at -30°C, a common scenario in regions of northern Asia, Eastern Europe, and North America. If confirmed under real-world conditions, this would represent a generational leap compared to any technology currently available on the market. This performance relies not only on the battery chemistry but also on advanced thermal management that keeps the system within its optimal operating range, preventing sudden voltage drops and accelerated degradation. Aerodynamics and High Electrical Performance: The Liefeng was not conceived solely as a technological showcase for its battery. Chery has also worked on a design focused on maximizing energy efficiency.

Its shooting brake body combines a low silhouette with active aerodynamic elements that adjust according to speed to reduce air resistance.

In terms of mechanics, the brand reveals that the model will feature an 800-volt electrical architecture, a configuration increasingly common in high-performance vehicles because it allows for faster charging and more stable power delivery.

The electric motor will be capable of spinning up to 30,000 revolutions per minute, which translates into typical figures of a sports car: acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in around 3 seconds and an estimated top speed of 260 km/h.

These performance figures reinforce the idea that this is not a slow and cumbersome experiment, but a vehicle designed to compete on all fronts: range, performance, and efficiency.

2026 and 2027: the calendar of Chery

The manufacturer's roadmap includes a pre-mass production phase. Throughout 2026, Chery will deploy an initial fleet of test vehicles to gather real-world data on the system's performance under different weather conditions and usage scenarios.

If the results meet expectations, the next step will be to begin large-scale manufacturing in 2027.

If this comes to fruition, Chery would be several years ahead of many of its international rivals. Currently, numerous European and Japanese manufacturers are working on solid-state battery projects, but most anticipate their commercial arrival beyond 2030.This would place the Chinese brand in a privileged position within the technological race that will define the next decade of the automotive industry.