Lithium Battery Commercial Development History

The commercialization of lithium batteries began in 1991, and the development process can be divided into 3 stages. Sony Corporation of Japan launched commercial rechargeable lithium batteries in 1991, and realized the first application of lithium batteries in the field of mobile phones. This was the beginning of the commercialization of lithium batteries. The development of lithium batteries can be roughly divided into 3 stages: From 1991 to 2000, Japan monopolized the lithium battery industry. At this stage, lithium batteries have a small capacity and are mainly used in mobile phones and portable consumer electronics. Relying on the first-mover advantage in lithium battery technology, Japanese companies quickly occupied the consumer electronics market.In 1998, the global output of lithium batteries was 280 million. At this time, Japan’s lithium battery production capacity has reached 400 million units per year. At this stage, Japan is the global lithium battery research and development and processing center.

The second stage is from 2001 to 2011, when lithium battery manufacturers in China and South Korea gradually emerged. The rise of a new round of consumer electronics products such as smart phones has driven the growth of demand for lithium batteries. At this stage, the lithium battery technology of Chinese and South Korean companies has gradually matured and seized the lithium battery consumer market.

Among them, the proportion of Chinese lithium battery shipments to the global lithium battery shipments increased from 12.62% in 2003 to 16.84% in 2009, an increase of 4.22pct;The proportion of South Korea’s lithium battery shipments increased from 12.17% in 2003 to 32.35% in 2009, an increase of 20.18pct;The proportion of Japanese lithium battery shipments dropped from 61.82% in 2003 to 46.43% in 2009, a drop of 15.39pct.According to Techno Systems Research data, in the second quarter of 2011, South Korea’s lithium battery shipments surpassed Japan for the first time, ranking first in the world. The lithium battery industry has formed a pattern of competition for hegemony among China, Japan and South Korea.

The third stage is from 2012 to now, and power batteries have become a new growth point. With the gradual slowdown in the growth rate of the consumer lithium battery market and the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, the proportion of power lithium battery shipments to lithium battery shipments is generally on the rise. From 2017 to 2021, the proportion of Chinese power lithium battery shipments in Chinese lithium battery shipments will increase from 55% to 69%, an increase of 14pct.

China has gradually developed into a major producer of power lithium batteries. At the time of the transformation of lithium battery growth power, Chinese lithium battery manufacturers have risen rapidly. By the end of 2021, China has developed into a major producer of power lithium batteries. In 2021, Chinese power lithium battery production capacity will account for 69% of the global power lithium battery production capacity. According to SNE Research data, in the 2021 global ranking of power lithium battery installed capacity, 6 Chinese companies rank among the top ten. SNE Research predicts that by 2025, Chinese power lithium battery production capacity will account for 70% of the global power lithium battery production capacity!