SHENZHEN SHINE WELL POWER TECHNOLOGY CO.,LTD

Excerpted from MR. Singal: Lithium battery packs are the workhorses that power our electronics, but their creation involves a complex dance of several processes. Let's delve into the typical flow of a lithium battery pack production line:   Sorting and Grouping: Not all batteries are created equal, even within the same batch. This step involves meticulously sorting batteries based on their capacity, ensuring consistent performance across the entire pack. Automatic Welding: Once sorted, the batteries are precisely welded together using techniques like laser welding. This creates a strong and reliable connection between the batteries within the pack. Semi-finished Product Assembly: After welding, the core of the pack is complete. However, it's not ready for action yet. Additional components like bus bars (conductors), protective boards (safety features), and connectors are meticulously assembled to create a semi-finished product. Aging Test: Safety and performance are paramount. The semi-finished pack undergoes a rigorous aging process, simulating real-world use cycles. This helps identify any potential weaknesses and ensures the pack delivers optimal performance and longevity. PACK Detection: A thorough inspection follows the aging test. Specialized equipment meticulously checks the pack for any electrical or physical defects. Only packs that pass this stringent screening process move forward. PACK Packaging: Finally, the pack gets dressed for success. It's encased in sturdy and secure outer packaging, complete with necessary labeling and safety information. This ensures safe transportation and protects the pack during use.   A Look Inside the Pack: A lithium battery pack is more than just batteries grouped together. It's a complex system that includes various crucial components:   Battery Pack: The core, consists of sorted and welded batteries. Bus Bar: Conducts electricity between the batteries within the pack. Protective Board: Monitors and safeguards the pack against overcharging, over-discharging, and overheating. Outer Packaging: Provides structural integrity and protects the pack from environmental factors. Connector: Enables connection with the device using the pack.   Key Considerations for PACK Production:   Battery Consistency: For optimal performance, batteries within the pack need a high degree of consistency in terms of capacity and other parameters. Cycle Life: While single batteries may have a longer cycle life, the pack itself might have a shorter lifespan due to factors like variations in usage patterns. Operating Conditions: PACKs have specific limitations regarding charging and discharging currents, temperature ranges, and charging methods. Protection and Monitoring: Battery packs require continuous monitoring and protection for voltage, temperature, and current to ensure safe and efficient operation.   The Automation Challenge: Despite advancements, automation in PACK production faces hurdles due to inconsistencies in battery pack standards. However, the industry is actively working towards developing automated solutions to improve production efficiency and cost-effectiveness. By understanding the intricate flow of a lithium battery pack production line, we gain a deeper appreciation for the technology powering our everyday devices.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's Electronic Information Department, China's lithium-ion battery industry continued its growth trend in the first two months of 2024. Based on information from industry standards announcements and industry association estimates, the total national production of lithium batteries exceeded 117 GWh in January and February, representing a 15% year-on-year increase. In the battery segment, the production of energy storage lithium batteries surpassed 17 GWh in the first two months. The installed capacity of power-type lithium batteries for new energy vehicles was approximately 50 GWh. The total value of lithium battery exports reached 61.94 billion yuan during January and February. In the first-tier materials segment, the production of positive electrode materials reached 277,000 tons, showing a 4.5% year-on-year increase. The production of negative electrode materials reached 230,000 tons, demonstrating a 5.6% year-on-year increase. The production of separators reached 2.45 billion square meters, maintaining the same level as the same period last year. The production of electrolytes reached 135,000 tons, indicating a 3.8% year-on-year increase. In the second-tier materials segment, the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide reached 75,000 tons and 41,000 tons, respectively. The average prices of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide (micro-powder grade) in January and February were 97,000 yuan/ton and 92,000 yuan/ton, respectively. Source: Industrial Information Bulletin, translated.

Despite the unfavorable overall international economic environment and the relatively sluggish export performance of energy storage batteries, the new energy vehicle industry, which represents the largest consumer of lithium batteries, has seen a significant increase in export volume. On April 10th, the latest data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) showed that the economic operation of the automobile industry had a steady start in the first quarter, achieving a good opening. Specifically, the production and sales of automobiles showed rapid growth, with both passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles performing well. The momentum of rapid growth in the new energy vehicle sector continued, with a stable market share of 30%. The export of complete vehicles remained at a high level, continuing to play a positive role in driving industry growth, while Chinese brands continued to rise, maintaining a high market share. In March, China's automobile production and sales reached 2.687 million and 2.694 million vehicles, respectively, representing a month-on-month increase of 78.4% and 70.2%, and a year-on-year increase of 4% and 9.9%. After the holiday, a large number of new cars were launched, and offline activities such as auto shows gradually resumed. Some regions introduced policies to promote sales, such as trade-in programs, which drove a rapid increase in automobile sales on a monthly and yearly basis. In the first quarter, China's automobile production and sales reached 6.606 million and 6.72 million vehicles, respectively, representing a year-on-year increase of 6.4% and 10.6%, achieving a good start in the first quarter. In the first quarter, China's sales of new energy vehicles reached 2.09 million units, with 307,000 units exported. Regarding new energy vehicles, in March, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 863,000 and 883,000 units, respectively, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.1% and 35.3%, with a market share of 32.8%. In March, domestic sales of new energy vehicles reached 758,000 units, an increase of 92.1% month-on-month and 32% year-on-year. The export of new energy vehicles reached 124,000 units, representing a month-on-month increase of 52% and a year-on-year increase of 59.4%. In the first quarter, China's production and sales of new energy vehicles reached 2.115 million and 2.09 million units, respectively, representing a year-on-year increase of 28.2% and 31.8%, with a market share of 31.1%. Among them, domestic sales of new energy vehicles reached 1.783 million units, an increase of 33.3% year-on-year, while exports reached 307,000 units, an increase of 23.8% year-on-year. According to CAAM's analysis, in the first quarter, sales of new energy passenger vehicles in China showed positive growth in all segments. Currently, sales are mainly concentrated in the B segment, with a cumulative sales of 681,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 57.2%. In addition, in the first quarter, except for the 200,000-250,000 and 400,000-500,000 price ranges, which experienced a year-on-year decline in sales, other price ranges showed positive growth. Currently, sales are still mainly concentrated in the 150,000-200,000 range, with a cumulative sales of 535,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 18.2%. In terms of companies, in the first quarter, the top ten enterprise groups in terms of sales of new energy vehicles totaled 1.806 million units, a year-on-year increase of 31.4%, accounting for 86.4% of the total sales volume of new energy vehicles, a decrease of 0.3 percentage points from the same period last year. Regarding exports, in March, China exported 100,000 pure electric vehicles, representing a month-on-month increase of 50.9% and a year-on-year increase of 41%. The export of plug-in hybrid vehicles reached 24,000 units, representing a month-on-month increase of 56.7% and a year-on-year increase of 2.4 times. In the first quarter, China exported 248,000 pure electric vehicles, an increase of 7.3% year-on-year, and 59,000 plug-in hybrid vehicles, an increase of 2.6 times year-on-year. According to data released by the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), in March, the production of new energy passenger vehicles in China reached 788,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 25.2% and a month-on-month increase of 84.9%. The wholesale sales volume of new energy passenger vehicles reached 810,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 31.1% and a month-on-month increase of 81.3%. The retail sales of new energy vehicles reached 709,000 units, a year-on-year increase of 29.5% and aI'm sorry, but I don't have access to real-time data as my knowledge was last updated in September 2021. Therefore, I cannot provide you with the most recent information on China's automobile industry or the specific data for April 2024. I recommend referring to reliable news sources or industry reports for the latest updates on the Chinese automobile industry.

Will solid-state batteries be the new favorite for home energy storage and commercial energy storage? On April 3, 2024, European startup Statevolt announced its plans to invest $3.2 billion (equivalent to 23.1 billion Chinese yuan) in building an advanced battery superfactory in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates. The factory will adopt a modular design and initially focus on producing semi-solid-state batteries, with plans to transition to full solid-state batteries once in full operation. It is projected to have an annual production capacity of 40 GWh to meet the growing global demand for energy storage solutions. The project will be located in the Al Hamra Industrial Zone in RAKEZ, covering an area of approximately 60 hectares and is expected to create up to 2,500 direct job opportunities for the local community. Statevolt has already partnered with RAKEZ and is in the process of obtaining construction permits, with the goal of starting production on the first assembly line by the end of 2026. Lars Carlstrom, the founder and CEO of Statevolt, emphasized that the establishment of this superfactory aims to address the increasing demand for energy storage solutions in Africa, India, the United Arab Emirates, and the Middle East. Through this strategic investment, Statevolt aims to strengthen its leadership position in the global energy transition and sustainable energy management. Statevolt is a startup battery manufacturing company focused on developing and building advanced battery superfactories to support the future development of clean energy. Lars Carlstrom, the founder of Statevolt, is also the founder and CEO of Italvolt and one of the co-founders of Britishvolt. In 2022, Statevolt announced plans to build a 54 GWh battery factory in the Empire Valley of California, United States, with an estimated investment of $4 billion. The construction of this factory is expected to provide batteries for approximately 650,000 electric vehicles. Italvolt is dedicated to supporting the green industrialization of Italy and Europe at large. In 2021, it announced the establishment of one of Europe's largest battery superfactories in Italy, with a final capacity of 70 GWh. Britishvolt, on the other hand, plans to establish a large-scale battery factory in the United Kingdom, focusing on supplying batteries for electric vehicles. We believe that with the increasing application of solid-state batteries in the field of electric vehicles, the next step will undoubtedly be the application of home energy storage products and commercial energy storage products. Let us wait and see! Source: Statevolt (compiled and translated from Chinese)