The competition in the power battery industry has evolved significantly. What was once a race based on product strength alone has now transformed into a multidimensional competition, encompassing technological innovation, smart manufacturing, supply chain ecosystem development, green and sustainable practices, globalization, localization capabilities, and brand marketing. These factors collectively challenge the comprehensive competitiveness of companies in the industry.

In this context, the global power battery sector continues to see a wave of innovation and strategy shifts. Leaders from top power battery companies will gather at the upcoming conference to discuss the latest trends and share insights into the future of the industry. So far, over 20 executives from leading battery manufacturers have confirmed their participation, including high-level representatives from CATL, CALB, EVE Energy, Gotion, Svolt, and others. These executives will present keynote speeches or engage in panel discussions.

Key Trends and Shifts in the Power Battery Industry

1. Creating Independent Categories for Competitive Edge

As competition in the power battery market intensifies, product technology has reached a level that satisfies terminal demand, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish between different products based on technological advances alone. This has led to the rise of independent battery categories. These categories allow companies to differentiate their products, avoid price wars, and increase their product’s added value and profit margins.

For instance, CATL has launched different battery products targeting various markets: the Kirin battery for fast charging, the Shenxing battery for commercial vehicles, and the Xiaoyao battery for hybrid vehicles. Similarly, CALB has introduced a range of products for diverse applications, including the "TopFlow" series, which includes supercharging, long-range, high-power, and aviation batteries to meet specific market demands.

2. Fast Charging and Hybrid Market Share Growth

Fast-charging batteries have rapidly penetrated the electric vehicle market in 2024. According to GGII, domestic shipments of fast-charging lithium batteries are expected to exceed 10 GWh by the end of the year. Leading companies such as CATL, EVE Energy, and Gotion have released new fast-charging batteries aimed at different applications. For example, Gotion unveiled the "G-Series" 5C ultra-fast charging battery, while EVE Energy has introduced the "Kaizen" battery for commercial vehicles with 3C charging speeds.

In addition to fast charging, hybrid vehicles have also seen significant growth, with cumulative sales reaching 3.33 million units from January to September 2024, a 84.2% year-on-year increase. In this market, CALB’s supercharging and extended-range battery technology has gained significant traction, while companies like Honeycomb Energy have made breakthroughs in battery technology for hybrid vehicles.

3. Accelerating the Industrialization of New Battery Technologies

The drive to industrialize next-generation battery technologies, such as semi-solid and solid-state batteries, is central to the industry’s evolution. Leading companies including BYD, Gotion, and Lishen have made significant strides in these areas. For instance, Lishen’s latest semi-solid battery boasts an energy density of 402 Wh/kg and a cycle life of 1000 cycles, with mass production expected by 2025. Gotion has made advances in solid-state technology, achieving breakthroughs in composite electrolytes and in-situ curing technology, paving the way for safer and more efficient solid-state batteries.

4. Embracing AI in Battery Materials and Manufacturing

The power battery industry is increasingly integrating AI into its operations to accelerate innovation. Leading players such as CATL, BYD, Honey comb Energy, and EVE Energy are exploring AI applications in both battery materials and smart manufacturing. SES AI, for instance, has partnered with NVIDIA, Crusoe, and Supermicro to use AI-optimized supercomputers to accelerate battery material research, enhancing the understanding of battery chemistry and speeding up the development of energy storage solutions.

Integrating AI strategically into technology development, production processes, and downstream applications is seen as essential to reshaping business models and driving growth across the industry.