Late last year, I had the chance to check out the world’s first semi-solid-state batteries designed for electric bicycles. At EICMA 2025, I visited T&D, an electric mobility company that was spun out of e-bike component maker Bafang (and founded by the same co-founder of Bafang, Sunny He). There I saw the first production-destined semi-solid-state e-bike batteries. At the time, it was a big secret which company would be the first to put them into e-bikes and get those new batteries on the road. But now we’ve finally learned who will claim the title: Giant. Giant Manufacturing is preparing to unveil what it claims will be the industry’s first electric bike powered by a semi-solid-state battery, marking a potentially major step forward in e-bike battery technology. The announcement positions the upcoming model as a “smart power bike” built around what Giant calls an industry-leading semi-solid battery system. While full details remain under wraps, the company is clearly aiming to differentiate itself in a market where battery innovation has largely plateaued around conventional lithium-ion chemistries. Advertisement - scroll for more content Semi-solid state batteries sit somewhere between traditional lithium-ion cells and fully solid-state batteries, which have long been touted as the holy grail of energy storage. By replacing most of the liquid electrolyte with a more stable, gel-like or solid component, these batteries can offer higher energy density and improved safety without the manufacturing challenges of fully solid-state designs. According to the comparison data released alongside the teaser, the new battery could deliver notable gains. At the same size, it reportedly offers more energy storage, or alternatively, the same capacity can be had at around roughly 20% lower weight. That’s a meaningful improvement for e-bikes, where battery size, weight, and total range are critical factors. Cold weather performance is another area where semi-solid tech appears to shine. The data suggests the battery can retain around 80% of its discharge capability at -10°C, compared to just under 50% for typical traditional lithium-ion batteries. That could translate to far more reliable winter riding, a long-standing pain point for e-bike users. Cycle life is also expected to improve, with claims of around 1,200 charge cycles versus roughly 600–800 cycles for conventional lithium-ion packs. But perhaps most important of all, the safety implications of semi-solid-state batteries are hard to overstate. While still a rare occasion among most lithium-ion batteries, fires caused by traditional e-bike batteries can have devastating consequences. Semi-solid-state batteries offer safety assurances that go far beyond what is possible with conventional alternatives. Electrek’s Take We still haven’t seen these batteries tested in the wild, but if these claims hold up in real-world use, this could be one of the most meaningful battery upgrades we’ve seen in e-bikes in years. More range, lighter weight, better cold-weather performance, and longer lifespan hit nearly every major pain point riders care about. And considering the state of e-bike battery technology has been relatively stagnant for the last decade or so, it’s about time we had something to get excited about. The big question, of course, is cost. Advanced battery chemistries tend to debut at a premium, and it remains to be seen how Giant prices this new model. But as a first step toward next-generation batteries in micromobility, this is exactly the kind of innovation the industry has been waiting for. Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.
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