At CES 2026 last month, one of the main themes, besides the advancement of humanoid robots coming to market, was solid-state batteries are moving beyond the lab.
From eVTOL aircraft to high-performance electric mobility platforms, manufacturers are signaling that commercialization is accelerating. But as solid-state chemistries transition from prototype cells to real-world products, environmental testing strategies must evolve alongside them.
For battery manufacturers, the shift is not just about chemistry. It is about validating safety, performance, and reliability under new and unfamiliar conditions.
Solid-State Batteries Change the Testing Equation
Solid-state batteries replace liquid electrolytes with solid materials often ceramic, polymer, or sulfide-based. While this design promises improved thermal stability and higher energy density, it introduces new variables:
- Different thermal failure behaviors
- Higher stored energy per cell
- Potential dendrite formation through solid electrolytes
- Mechanical stack pressure requirements
These differences demand more than traditional lithium-ion validation protocols. They require adaptable, containment-ready, fully integrated test systems.
Higher Energy Density Demands Higher Safety Standards
One of the most significant advantages of solid-state technology is increased energy density. For aerospace and advanced mobility platforms, this is a breakthrough.
But greater stored energy increases the consequence of failure.
Environmental chambers used for solid-state validation must account for:
- Reinforced structural integrity
- Integrated gas monitoring
- Advanced safety interlocks
- Abuse testing compatibility
Standards such as SAE J2464 still guide battery abuse testing, but evolving chemistries require flexible systems capable of safely evaluating unknown failure behaviors.
AES battery chambers are engineered with safety at the forefront built to contain, monitor, and manage high-energy events while maintaining precise environmental control.
Mechanical Variables Add Complexity
Unlike conventional lithium-ion cells, some solid-state designs require stack compression to maintain contact between internal layers.
This introduces additional test considerations:
- Testing under controlled compression
- Custom tailored fixturing
- Combined mechanical and thermal stress
Environmental test equipment must support these variables without sacrificing temperature uniformity or chamber performance. AES systems are designed for configurable integration, allowing engineers to adapt as cell architectures evolve.
Extreme Temperature Claims Require Proof
Many solid-state developers promote improved cold-weather and high-temperature performance. These claims must be validated through:
- Extended low-temperature exposure
- High-temperature operation
- Rapid ramp rates
- Long-duration cycling under load
AES performance chambers, capable of extended temperature ranges and tight uniformity control, provide the repeatability required for next-generation chemistry validation.
When paired with integrated cycler communication, engineers gain synchronized chamber and battery control while reducing risk and improving data accuracy.
Integrated Testing Is No Longer Optional
As solid-state batteries scale from R&D to module and pack-level validation, isolated systems create inefficiencies and safety risks.
AES eliminates integration complexity with fully engineered platforms:
- The ATPPRIME® delivers controlled, scalable battery testing with seamless chamber communication.
- The ATPEHEAVY® supports higher current applications and large-format cells requiring increased power and structural capability.
- The FUSION Series integrates tester and chamber into a single, engineered solution — removing third-party integration challenges and accelerating deployment.
These platforms are designed to support evolving chemistries without requiring customers to redesign their testing infrastructure as technology advances.
Engineering for What’s Next
Since 1959, AES has designed environmental test chambers and integrated battery testing systems engineered for repeatability, safety, and scalability.
The solid-state battery shift represents more than an incremental improvement. It represents a new phase of energy storage innovation, one that demands adaptable infrastructure and forward-thinking validation strategies.
From lab to launch, AES provides the integrated platforms, containment-ready chambers, and patented battery testing systems required to validate emerging chemistries with confidence.
Innovation in chemistry must be matched by innovation in testing.
