China Launches the Great Battery Revolution. What to Expect?

Chinese battery and automobile manufacturers have teamed up to jointly develop and produce solid-state batteries. Japan and the West are facing the “challenge of the century” in the field of technology.

Back in January, Beijing created a consortium – the China Collaborative Innovation Platform – to implement all-solid-state batteries (CASIP), which brought together government, academia and industry.

The alliance's goal is to build a solid-state battery supply chain by 2030. CASIP immediately stepped up research and development of next-generation batteries using artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies.

Irreconcilable friends

Battery manufacturers participating in the alliance include CATL, a subsidiary of BYD FinDreams Battery, CALB, EVE Energy and Gotion High-tech. That is, 5 of the 10 largest car battery manufacturers in the world!

In addition, the automakers taking part in the project are mainly state-owned enterprises, as well as private companies BYD and Nio.

The project is unique in that it brings together former rivals for the first time. For example, CATL and BYD are aggressively competing for market share in lithium iron phosphate batteries. CATL even sued CALB and Sult Energy Technology, another battery manufacturer in the consortium, for patent infringement.

But those are internal squabbles.

Since it is all happening in China, CASIP's membership includes government research institutes such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and influential government-funded foundations.

Japanese factor

To recap - for years, Toyota Motor Corporation and other Japanese companies have led the way in the research and development of high-energy-density solid-state batteries that would significantly increase the range of electric vehicles. They are also less flammable and more compact, giving designers considerable freedom.

Toyota plans to release electric vehicles equipped with solid-state batteries in 2027-2028, Nissan Motor will apparently begin selling them in the fiscal year of 2028.

European automakers like Volkswagen and BMW are also rushing to introduce the new battery technology, partnering with startups in the US and beyond. 

China is in pursuit

The Middle Kingdom has actively joined the electric motor race.

“The sales of new energy vehicles will exceed those of traditional electric ones by 2025 or 2026,” says Tsinghua University professor Ouyang Minggao, who specializes in the development of automobile-related technologies. He believes that China should take advantage of its huge auto market and be the first to adopt solid-state batteries.

Chinese analysts believe that there is a significant chance of achieving a breakthrough in this direction before 2030. Whether the nationwide approach to developing a miracle battery will pay off is another matter.

According to influential Chinese media outlet Yicai, Toyota holds more than 1,300 solid-state battery patents, while Chinese manufacturers have only 100.

It is not certain whether Chinese companies will be able to catch up but there is no doubt that they will take their fare share of the market.

Sources: Аsia.nikkei.com, Yicaiglobal.com