In the first half of this year, my country's new energy vehicle production increased tenfold, boosting the battery market accordingly. During investigations and interviews, reporters found that the battery industry is largely in agreement on developing reusable, clean, and environmentally friendly batteries, but differs in their specific technological approaches, which will foster various possibilities for innovation in my country's battery industry.
The new energy battery strategy is clear.
At the macro-policy level, the policy positioning for developing the battery industry under the new energy strategy is very clear. Recent reports indicate that, to promote the development of my country's new energy vehicle industry, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will organize the formulation of a development strategy for power lithium-ion batteries and is expected to provide strong support in terms of industrial policies, financial subsidies, and tax incentives. Other national and local favorable policies are also being continuously introduced. In May of this year, Shanghai announced the "Interim Measures of Shanghai Municipality for Encouraging the Purchase and Use of New Energy Vehicles," which explicitly states that for each set of power lithium-ion batteries recycled by a manufacturing company, Shanghai will provide a subsidy of 1,000 yuan.
At the Battery Technology Innovation Forum held on the 27th, both academics and industry professionals agreed that developing new energy batteries is the only way for the country to implement its new energy strategy. He Zuoxiu, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, believes that vigorously developing "hydropower + wind power + solar power + pumped storage power stations" is the only option to completely and thoroughly solve my country's current energy problems. The battery industry, including energy storage batteries and new energy vehicle batteries, needs to develop accordingly.
In fact, China's new energy battery sector has already achieved rapid development. Data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology shows that in the first half of this year, my country's lithium-ion battery industry (including batteries, positive and negative electrode materials, separators, electrolytes, and specialized equipment) maintained stable growth, with the total industry output value approaching 40 billion yuan. The industry structure and the application of new technologies have shown promising signs of improvement.
Multiple technical approaches are possible.
With the industry as a whole experiencing a boom, the coexistence of multiple technological approaches will create a variety of possibilities for the industry.
During the investigation, reporters found that lead-acid batteries, as a mature technology, are still finding room for expansion in the market. Despite some pressure from the booming development of lithium-ion batteries, the mature and stable technology, along with increasingly stringent environmental standards, has brought development opportunities to leading companies in the industry. Mengshi Technology, a listed company participating in the exhibition, stated that lead-acid batteries operate stably and have relatively good safety, and the industry should not worry about the squeeze from lithium-ion batteries at present; the company currently has sufficient orders for lead-acid batteries. Shen Weixin, Chairman of Shanghai Haibao Special Power Supply Co., Ltd., believes that after rectification, the development of the lead-acid battery industry has gradually become more rational, but the industry still needs to work on environmental protection and licensed production, and its rapid development still faces multiple challenges.
Leaving aside the debate over battery types, there are multiple technological approaches within the lithium-ion battery field alone. Professor Yang Li of Shanghai Jiao Tong University analyzes that there are currently numerous technological routes in the lithium-ion battery field, including those for positive and negative electrode materials and electrolytes, both domestically and internationally. In his view, this diversification of technological approaches is conducive to highlighting innovation.
This has also been validated in industry practice. Taking Zhejiang Juhua Kailan New Materials Co., Ltd., an exhibitor, as an example, the company revealed that it has successfully developed a high-quality lithium hexafluorophosphate electrolyte, the quality of which is expected to surpass that of leading foreign manufacturers in the industry. It is understood that this electrolyte can ensure that the battery will not deform under high-temperature cycling tests. In addition, the company is researching and experimenting with fluorinated additives for lithium-ion battery electrolytes, and expects to achieve good results.
