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The Shift in the Global Auto Industry

In recent years, China has witnessed explosive growth in the new energy vehicle (NEV) sector. By the first half of 2023, the country had already surpassed Japan to become the world’s largest automobile exporter. At the heart of this success lies China’s dominance in the electric vehicle market, and more specifically, its mastery of the core component: the lithium battery.
To understand why the global battery industry remains deeply tied to China, it’s important to look at the factors behind its leadership.

Power Batteries: The Heart of New Energy Vehicles

The remarkable rise of China’s NEV sector is largely due to its leadership in power battery production. These batteries are often called the “heart” of electric vehicles, as they directly affect range, safety, and performance. Issues like battery degradation, rapid power loss, and safety risks all trace back to the power battery.

More importantly, power batteries also determine vehicle pricing—accounting for 40% to 60% of a car’s total cost. This explains why, in many EV showrooms across China, customers are shown not only the car’s driving range but also the battery manufacturer’s name—a detail that never mattered in traditional combustion engine cars.

Catching Up and Moving Ahead

While automakers in Europe, the U.S., and Japan began researching power batteries decades ago, progress was slow. China entered the field later but quickly built momentum. In fact, the country’s first lithium battery laboratory was established in the late 1970s.

When Sony commercialized lithium-ion batteries in 1991, Chinese academician Chen Liquan—after visiting Sony’s facility in Tokyo—brought the knowledge back to China and helped industrialize the technology. Chen later became the mentor of Zeng Yuqun, founder of CATL, now the world’s largest battery maker. His role, along with contributions from companies like BYD, Lishen, and Wanxiang Group, laid the foundation for China’s rise in lithium battery technology.

Building a Complete Industry Chain

Producing power batteries is extremely complex. Each battery cell requires micro- and nano-level precision, and thousands of cells are needed for a single EV. As the saying goes, the performance of the entire battery pack depends on its weakest cell—the “bucket effect.”

China has built a comprehensive and competitive industry chain to overcome this challenge. Today, the country accounts for more than 70% of global shipments of key materials, including cathodes, anodes, separators, and electrolytes. By integrating companies across the entire supply chain—from raw materials to structural components—China has steadily reduced costs, improved efficiency, and created globally recognized enterprises.

Policy Support and Industry Dedication

China’s leadership in power batteries didn’t happen overnight. It was the result of strong policy direction and a clear industry vision: new energy vehicles must match, or even outperform, traditional combustion vehicles if they are to succeed.

Lithium batteries were first developed for consumer electronics, and this early experience provided a stepping stone to power batteries. Over just a few decades, the industry made a leap from seeding to rapid growth, supported by government incentives and relentless R&D.

Through countless trials, optimizations, and standardizations, Chinese enterprises overcame barriers and narrowed the gap with foreign rivals. This determination not only solved early pain points but also allowed China to rise to the forefront of the global power battery industry.

Looking Ahead

Today, China’s lithium battery sector stands as a global benchmark. Backed by strong policies, a complete supply chain, and a generation of experts who grew out of both academia and industry, Chinese companies have transformed from fast followers into industry leaders.

What once started as a late entry into lithium battery research has now evolved into a position of global dominance, reshaping the automotive industry and cementing China’s role at the center of the clean energy transition.

A Journey of 25 Years

Since the introduction of lithium battery technology in 1998, China’s lithium battery industry has grown tremendously over the past 25 years. With strong government policies and continuous innovation from domestic enterprises, the country has built a complete supply chain and established itself as a global leader. Today, China is home to many internationally competitive lithium battery companies that continue to push the industry forward.

Consumer Lithium Batteries: Still Room to Grow

On a global scale, lithium batteries are mainly applied in three areas: consumer electronics, power batteries, and energy storage systems.
In the consumer segment, growth has slowed in recent years due to a cooling demand in 3C electronics. However, with the gradual recovery of downstream markets and the emergence of new applications, the consumer battery market still holds considerable potential for the future.

Power Lithium Batteries: The Fastest-Growing Segment

Power batteries remain the core driver of lithium battery development and are expected to maintain a high growth rate for years to come.
According to GGII forecasts, global installed capacity of power batteries could reach 1,550 GWh by 2025, and further expand to 3,000 GWh by 2030.
For Chinese manufacturers, strengthening their presence in the domestic market while expanding globally has become a clear strategy, especially in consumer, power, and energy storage applications.

Energy Storage Batteries: Entering a High-Speed Expansion Stage

Shenzhen, as the hub of China’s lithium battery industry, plays a crucial role in the development of energy storage batteries. The city’s advanced intelligent equipment sector provides the technological backbone for large-scale and high-quality production.
With diverse energy storage scenarios and the trend toward technological diversification, continuous upgrades in intelligent equipment and greater investment in key technologies are necessary. These efforts will ensure that energy storage batteries deliver safety, reliability, stability, energy efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Market Outlook: Opportunities Ahead

Thanks to their small size, light weight, high energy density, and eco-friendly nature, lithium-ion batteries are gradually replacing traditional lead-acid batteries. Their use in consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and energy storage devices continues to expand, fueling strong market growth.
Driven by global demand, policy support, technological breakthroughs, and cost advantages, the energy storage battery sector has entered a high-speed expansion phase. With an improving industry chain and strengthening competitiveness, Chinese lithium battery enterprises are well-positioned to further increase their global market share in the years to come.

Amid rising electricity prices and global energy shortages, demand for energy storage products has been soaring. China’s lithium battery exports are seeing explosive growth. In the first half of this year, China’s lithium battery industry continued its upward momentum, with production surpassing 400 gigawatt-hours—a 43% increase compared to the same period last year. Industry revenue reached 600 billion yuan, and lithium battery exports jumped 69% year-on-year, demonstrating China’s growing influence in the global market.

China’s Lithium Battery Exports

Thanks to strong government support, China’s lithium battery industry chain—from lithium mining and chemical raw materials to electrode materials, electrolytes, and battery systems—has developed rapidly. Chinese manufacturers are now among the world leaders in both scale and supply chain completeness.

Having a full industry chain and a large domestic market gives Chinese lithium battery companies a competitive edge in the global arena. They can manage costs effectively, maintain high quality, and coordinate their supply chains efficiently. On the technology front, Chinese companies have made significant breakthroughs, especially in high energy density batteries and fast-charging technology, which gives them a clear advantage in overseas markets.

Growth Opportunities in the Lithium Battery Industry

As the global energy landscape transforms, the lithium battery industry is seeing unprecedented growth opportunities. Digitalization and sustainable development have become major trends, injecting new energy into the sector. Demand for electric vehicles and energy storage is expanding the market rapidly.

Market analysts predict that the global lithium battery market will continue to grow over the next few years. Batteries are constantly improving in terms of energy density, cycle life, and safety. Additionally, innovations like solid-state batteries promise to bring major changes to the industry.

Main Applications of Lithium Batteries

Lithium batteries can be divided into three main categories based on their uses: power, consumer, and energy storage.

• Power batteries are mainly used in electric vehicles, light electric vehicles, and power tools—they are the largest segment.
• Consumer batteries power smartphones, laptops, Bluetooth headphones, and other wearable devices, which have seen a surge in demand in recent years.
• Energy storage batteries support applications like communication base stations, peak shaving, off-grid power stations, microgrids, and rail transport. This segment is growing fast and benefits from strong global policy support.

Global Impact of Chinese Lithium Batteries

Chinese lithium batteries are not only critical for home energy storage systems but also serve as key power sources for electric vehicles worldwide. “Made in China” batteries are going global, supporting the world’s transition to green, low-carbon energy. This benefits the environment while boosting the global automotive industry.

Under the push of global green energy policies, the lithium battery industry is showing strong growth worldwide. Sustainability and environmental protection are now central themes. Looking ahead, the industry holds huge potential.

Companies need to keep an eye on international market trends and policy changes, continuously innovate, and optimize management to stay competitive. At the same time, governments around the world must cooperate to promote environmental protection and sustainable growth, creating a healthy environment for the lithium battery industry to thrive.

With the rapid development of global technology, an increasing number of electronic smart devices have entered people’s lives. Simultaneously, the growing concerns about energy shortages and environmental issues have raised higher demands for batteries. This has led to the rapid advancement of lithium battery technology, which is widely applied in various fields, including transportation, healthcare, military, and energy storage.

Automobiles have become essential modes of transportation for people, but traditional gasoline vehicles are causing increasing environmental pollution. The new generation of lithium-ion batteries, due to their characteristics of being non-polluting, low in pollution, and versatile in energy sources, has seen significant development and application in the automotive industry. They are widely used in electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and electric bicycles, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and decreasing air pollution.!

Green public transportation is becoming a development trend. Rail transportation, as a new mode of transportation, with higher efficiency and environmental friendliness, relies on the application of lithium batteries.

Applications in the Electronics Industry

The lithium-ion battery industry continues to grow rapidly, with an increasingly diverse range of product types and improving product quality. They are used in consumer electronic products such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras, as well as in new energy vehicles, power tools, and energy storage systems. Moreover, the rapid development of industrial automation, military information technology, civilian convenience, and the growth of the internet of things and smart cities have expanded the lithium-ion battery market.

Applications in Energy Storage

Energy storage applications encompass grid-side energy storage, including solar and wind energy storage, automatic generation control (AGC), and energy solutions for renewable energy sources. User-side energy storage includes solar charging stations, home energy storage systems, and backup power sources. Grid energy storage is used in substations, virtual power plants, and peak shaving/frequency regulation. While energy storage lithium-ion batteries do not have direct requirements for energy density, different energy storage scenarios have varying requirements for power density. Lithium-ion batteries used in power storage need to meet safety, long lifespan, and high energy conversion efficiency.

Applications in the Military

In the context of modern information warfare, digital weapons are increasingly prominent, and military energy sources are crucial to a country’s overall security. Lithium batteries are widely used in the military for field power supply, unmanned devices, individual soldier power sources, high-energy weapon power sources, portable communication devices, night vision equipment, and more. They play an irreplaceable role in ensuring reliable power supply for the military in combat.

Applications in Aviation

Traditional civil aircraft primarily use nickel-cadmium batteries, which have drawbacks such as large size, weight, limited storage capacity, and slow charging compared to lithium batteries. With the maturation of lithium battery technology and performance improvements, high-performance, large-capacity lithium batteries will further meet the energy needs of the next generation of multifunctional civil aircraft. This will reduce aircraft weight and promote the gradual use of lithium batteries in onboard systems like emergency lighting, cockpit voice recorders, flight data recorders, independent recorder power sources, backup or emergency power, and main and auxiliary power supply units. As new materials continue to emerge, lithium battery technology will continue to develop and mature, with large-capacity, high-power lithium batteries having a broader range of applications in the aviation field.

In the medical field, there is a growing need for portable medical equipment that can be carried and used anytime, anywhere. It is the application and development of technologies like lithium batteries that have facilitated the proliferation of portable home instruments and mobile monitoring devices, allowing patients to stay in the locations they prefer. The demand for smaller and more portable medical equipment has significantly increased as a result.

The high energy density, lightweight, rechargeability, and portability of lithium batteries make them an ideal power solution in various application areas. They help reduce environmental pollution, improve energy efficiency, and drive technological innovation.

Introduction

In the era of global green energy development, energy storage batteries have become a cornerstone for various industries. Among cylindrical lithium-ion batteries, the 18650 battery has long been a market standard, but the 21700 battery, initially co-developed by Panasonic and Tesla, is rapidly gaining attention due to its higher energy density and cost efficiency.

Named for its dimensions, the 21700 battery has a 21mm diameter, a 70mm height, and is cylindrical in shape. This seemingly simple change in size offers significant performance benefits, making it a key player in modern energy storage and power applications.

Evolution from 18650 to 21700

The 21700 lithium-ion battery is essentially an upgraded version of the 18650 battery. While 18650 batteries have found extensive use in consumer electronics, drones, and power tools, the 21700 battery was initially designed to meet the high power and range demands of electric vehicles (EVs).

Over time, the applications of 21700 batteries have expanded to:

• Electric vehicles: Providing the necessary power for longer range and improved performance.
• Power tools: Supplying high discharge currents for drills, saws, and other equipment.
• Energy storage systems: Storing energy from solar panels or other renewable sources.
• Consumer electronics: Chargers, flashlights, electronic cigarettes, medical devices, and handheld stabilizers.

Advantages of 21700 Batteries

1. Higher Energy Density:
   According to Tesla, the 21700 battery system reaches about 300Wh/kg, roughly 20% higher than the 250Wh/kg of the 18650 system. This allows more energy storage in the same volume, making devices lighter and longer-lasting.
2. Improved Discharge Performance:
   21700 batteries can handle higher discharge rates, making them ideal for EVs, power tools, and other high-demand applications.
3. Enhanced Reliability:
   The increase in energy density is achieved by reducing cobalt content and increasing nickel content, boosting both performance and stability in battery packs.
4. Versatile Applications:
   With high energy density, long cycle life, and reliable performance, 21700 batteries are increasingly used beyond electric vehicles, including solar energy storage and industrial equipment.

Market Considerations

Despite their advantages, 21700 batteries cannot fully replace 18650 batteries. The 18650 still has a wide market in consumer electronics and tools, where switching to 21700 would raise costs.

Moreover, 21700 batteries face competition from prismatic and pouch cells, especially in large-scale applications. To maintain competitiveness, manufacturers need to:

• Continuously innovate battery materials
• Improve cell performance
• Expand application scenarios beyond EVs

The future of 21700 batteries relies on balancing energy density, cost, and versatility to meet the growing demands of both industrial and consumer markets.

Conclusion

The 21700 lithium-ion battery represents a significant step forward in energy storage technology. With higher energy density, stronger discharge performance, and wider applications, it is poised to play a crucial role in electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, and high-power devices. As innovation continues, the 21700 battery will increasingly become a preferred solution for modern energy needs, bridging the gap between performance and sustainability.

Portable energy has become a necessity for modern life—whether you’re powering devices during camping trips, outdoor adventures, or keeping a backup system ready for emergencies. Among various options, the 12V lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery pack stands out as a safe, efficient, and long-lasting choice.

If you’re interested in creating your own mobile energy storage solution, this step-by-step guide will walk you through the assembly process.

Step 1: Insulation with Epoxy Board

Safety comes first. Before installing the cells, add epoxy boards between each battery cell. These boards provide essential insulation, preventing short circuits and ensuring that the cells remain separated even when packed tightly together.

Step 2: Installing the Battery Cells

The LiFePO4 cells are the heart of the battery pack. Place them carefully into a solid enclosure or box designed to hold them securely. Proper alignment is important to maintain balance and long-term stability.

Step 3: Adding Protection Boards

Protection boards act as the guardian of your battery pack. They monitor and regulate charging and discharging, preventing issues such as overcharging, over-discharging, and current overload. Just like in the first step, add epoxy insulation between the cells and the protection boards to keep everything safe and stable.

Step 4: Wiring and Connections

Now comes the critical electrical work. Connect the negative terminal (B-) of each cell to the main negative terminal of the pack, ensuring the cells are properly wired in series. Double-check the wiring when integrating the protection boards—this ensures reliable operation and safeguards your pack during both charging and use.

Step 5: Securing with Nuts and Bolts

To keep components firmly in place, use nuts and bolts. Tighten them well, and for extra stability, consider adding adhesive or a thread locker. This is particularly useful if your pack will be used in environments with vibration or movement.

Step 6: Insulation and Fixation

After the electrical connections, fix the battery components inside the enclosure with adhesive or glue. This not only prevents unwanted shifting but also adds another layer of protection against environmental factors like dust or minor impacts.

Step 7: Locking the Enclosure

Finally, secure the outer casing of the battery pack. Depending on your design, you can use rubber bands, clips, or other fastening methods to make sure the enclosure remains tightly closed, protecting the cells and boards inside.

Conclusion

Assembling a 12V LiFePO4 battery pack requires patience, attention to detail, and a strong focus on safety. By following each step—insulation, cell installation, protection, wiring, and securing—you can build a portable power source that is both safe and reliable.

If you’re new to battery assembly, it’s always best to seek help from experienced professionals to avoid risks. With proper assembly and maintenance, your LiFePO4 battery pack can provide long-lasting portable energy for everything from outdoor trips to emergency backup.

The Rise of Green Mobility

In today’s fast-moving digital era, electric transportation has become a symbol of technological progress and sustainability. As manufacturers push for longer driving ranges and improved performance, the role of battery technology has become more critical than ever. Among the solutions, the 72V 35AH lithium battery pack stands out as a powerful option to support the next generation of electric vehicles.

This article will walk you through the assembly process—step by step—while highlighting essential safety measures and practical tips.

Getting Ready: Tools and Materials

Before diving into assembly, preparation is everything. You’ll need lithium battery cells, a Battery Management System (BMS), a durable battery frame, quality connectors, insulation tape, welding tools, as well as protective gear like gloves and goggles.

Investing in high-quality materials ensures both performance and safety—two things you should never compromise when building a battery pack.

Step 1: Connecting the Cells

The foundation of your 72V 35AH pack lies in the series of lithium cells that form the system. Each connection must follow the correct polarity, as mistakes can lead to short circuits or long-term reliability issues.

Secure the cells with proper connectors, and use insulation tape where needed to keep the layout neat and safe.

Step 2: Installing the Battery Management System (BMS)

Think of the BMS as the brain of your battery pack. It continuously monitors voltage, temperature, and charge/discharge cycles to keep the cells balanced and safe.

Mount the BMS carefully, connect it to the corresponding cells, and set the right parameters to ensure the system works seamlessly.

Step 3: Encasing the Pack

With the cells and BMS in place, it’s time to secure everything inside a sturdy frame. The casing should not only provide physical protection but also allow for effective heat dissipation. A well-designed enclosure extends the life of your battery and makes it safer to use.

Step 4: Performance Testing

Before your battery pack ever touches an electric vehicle, thorough testing is a must. This includes controlled charging and discharging cycles to verify both capacity and performance.

If any irregularities appear, address them immediately—fixing issues early is always safer and cheaper than dealing with failures later.

Step 5: Safety First, Always

Working with lithium batteries requires caution. Wear your safety goggles and gloves, handle welding equipment carefully, and never skip standard safety protocols. Attention to these details keeps both you and your project safe.

Step 6: Powering Your Electric Vehicle

Once testing confirms everything is in order, the battery pack is ready to be installed. With a 72V 35AH system, you’ll experience extended range, stronger performance, and the satisfaction of driving a vehicle powered by cleaner, greener energy.

Final Thoughts

Assembling a 72V 35AH lithium battery pack is not just a technical task—it’s a step toward sustainable transportation. With the right skills and care, you can build a reliable power source that contributes to the global shift toward eco-friendly mobility.

By mastering this process, you’re not only enhancing your EV’s performance but also becoming part of the movement that’s reshaping the future of transport.

A Major Step Toward Faster-Charging EVs

A team of researchers from the United Kingdom and the United States has made a groundbreaking discovery that could reshape the future of electric vehicles. By finding a way to suppress lithium plating in lithium-ion batteries, they have opened the door to faster charging, improved safety, and longer-lasting batteries for electric cars.

The study, led by Dr. Xuekun Lu of Queen Mary University of London, was recently published in Nature Communications.

Why Lithium Plating Matters

When lithium-ion batteries are charged too quickly, lithium plating can occur. This happens when lithium ions accumulate on the negative electrode surface, forming a metallic lithium layer. Over time, this layer damages the battery, reduces its lifespan, and in severe cases can cause short circuits, fires, or even explosions.

This issue has long been one of the biggest obstacles to achieving safe and efficient rapid charging in electric vehicles.

The New Solution: Optimizing Graphite Electrodes

Dr. Lu and his collaborators tackled this challenge by focusing on the graphite negative electrode. Traditionally, this electrode consists of tiny graphite particles arranged in random patterns. The new research shows that fine-tuning the size, shape, and orientation of these particles can create more uniform reaction activity.

By reducing areas of local lithium saturation, this method significantly suppresses lithium plating and enhances overall battery performance.

How 3D Modeling Helped Unlock the Mystery

One of the key tools in this study was a cutting-edge 3D battery model. Using this model, the researchers were able to pinpoint when and where lithium plating begins, as well as track its growth rate.

This deeper understanding of the lithiation process inside graphite particles provides valuable insights for designing next-generation batteries and charging protocols.

Faster Charging and Higher Energy Density

The implications of this research go beyond safety. By refining the electrode’s microstructure, the team also found improvements in the battery’s energy density. This means electric vehicles equipped with such optimized batteries could travel longer distances on a single charge, while also charging more quickly.

Toward Safer, Smarter EV Batteries

This discovery marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of faster, safer, and more efficient EV batteries. The ability to suppress lithium plating not only reduces risks but also brings the industry closer to rapid-charging electric vehicles that combine safety with long range.

For drivers and manufacturers alike, this research offers a glimpse into a future where electric cars are more convenient, reliable, and practical than ever before.

What Makes LiPo Batteries Different?

Lithium polymer batteries (LiPo) share the same electrode materials as liquid lithium-ion batteries. The positive electrode can be made from lithium cobalt oxide, lithium manganate, ternary materials, or lithium iron phosphate, while the negative electrode is typically graphite.

The main difference lies in the electrolyte. Liquid lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte, whereas LiPo batteries replace it with a solid polymer electrolyte, which can be dry or gel-like. Most commonly, a polymer gel electrolyte is used today.

This adjustment allows LiPo batteries to be lighter, thinner, and more flexible, which is why they are so widely adopted in smartphones, laptops, and other portable electronics.

Are LiPo Batteries Safe?

Safety is a natural concern, especially since our phones often stay with us day and night. Fortunately, LiPo batteries are designed with flexible packaging that is thin and soft, making them less likely to explode under normal use or storage.

That said, no battery is completely risk-free. If a LiPo battery is punctured, severely damaged, or subjected to a large current surge, it may short-circuit, leading to overheating or even combustion. Most accidents with mobile phones and tablets come from such extreme conditions.

Common Risks and Precautions

1. Short Circuit

Short circuits can be internal or external, and they often occur during charging. If the plates inside the battery are poorly bonded, it increases the chance of an internal short circuit.

While most LiPo batteries include protection circuits and explosion-proof wires, these mechanisms are not foolproof. Under severe conditions, they may fail.

2. Overcharging

Overcharging is another major risk. When the voltage is too high or charging continues for too long, the battery’s internal temperature and pressure rise. This can lead to swelling, leakage, or rupture.

Overcharging and over-discharging also degrade the chemical balance inside the cell, reducing battery life significantly.

3. Chemical Activity of Lithium

Lithium is naturally highly reactive. During charge and discharge cycles, if the heat is not properly managed, gases form inside the cell, increasing pressure. A damaged casing can then cause leaks, fires, or, in rare cases, explosions. For LiPo batteries, this typically shows up as swelling rather than a violent burst.

4. Physical Damage

Crushing or puncturing the cell can compromise its safety. Since LiPo batteries use a gel electrolyte, the risk of explosion is lower than with liquid electrolyte cells, but damage can still make them unsafe to use.

5. Temperature Extremes

LiPo batteries should be kept within safe temperature ranges.

• Above 60°C, the separator film inside may suffer irreversible damage, permanently ruining the cell.
• At very low temperatures, performance drops sharply, and the battery may not release its full capacity.

So, Will a LiPo Battery Explode?

The short answer: it’s highly unlikely under normal use. Compared to traditional liquid lithium-ion batteries, LiPo batteries have a much lower probability of explosion. Their design makes them safer and more reliable, which is why they have become the standard choice for modern mobile electronics.

As long as users avoid overcharging, physical damage, and extreme environments, LiPo batteries remain one of the safest and most practical energy solutions for portable devices.