China new energy vehicles (NEV) output is 794k in 2017, year on year increase 53.8%. ASIACHEM research indicates that, driven by NEV power batteries, in 2017, China LIB output is about 88.7GWh, year on year increases 29.3%. ASIACHEM data shows that, in 2017, China LIB mainly consumed in 5 fields as below.
1. Cell Phones
Currently, smart phones mainly use soft-packaging batteries. Al-shell batteries, on the other hand, are still in use in some low-end models. As soft-packaging batteries have characteristics of good in safety, high in volume and light in weight etc., market share of soft-packaging cell phones continues increasing. Besides, LIB cutoff voltage used in smart phones is increasing from year to year. Currently, some of Xiaomi smart phones, Huawei smart phones even can make it 4.4V. Besides, smart phones which LIB cutoff voltage is 4.45V and 4.5V begin being favored by the market and will gradually be matured.
In 2017, China totally produced 1.92bn cell phones, year on year decreases 8.6%. Among, 1.43bn of them are smart phones, year on year decreases 5.3%. ASIACHEM estimates that, in 2017, China cell phones industry totally consumed 22.52GWh LIB.
2. Mini Computer Devices (Tablet Computers, Laptops)
Traditional laptops generally use 18650 batteries. Recently, however, tablet computers and ultra thin laptops gradually become market mainstream, which makes 18650 gradually exit mini computer devices used batteries market.
In 2017, China produced 304.95M sets mini computer devices, year on year increases 5.1%. ASIACHEM estimates that, in 2017, China mini computer devices totally consumed 10.25GWh LIB.
3. NEV
ASIACHEM research indicates that, currently, batteries that NEV mainly used are LFP batteries and ternary material batteries. Besides, there also are LMO batteries and LTO batteries. From 12 batches ‘NEV Popularization and Application Recommendation Vehicle Types Catalog’ issued by MIIT in 2017, it can be seen that China new energy passenger used vehicles and new energy special used vehicles mainly use ternary material batteries, while new energy coaches mainly use LFP batteries. ASIACHEM <China LIB Annual Report 2018> believes that, as content of nickel in ternary materials decides energy density of ternary material. What is more, price of cobalt greatly increases, all make high nickel ternary material batteries become market mainstream in the future.
In 2017, China NEV production and sales volume are 794k and 777k, respectively, year on year increase 53.8% and 53.3%, respectively. ASIACHEM estimates that, in 2017, China NEV totally consumed 34.38GWh LIB.
4. E-bikes
Currently, batteries which e-bikes used are lead-acid batteries. Besides, some e-bikes use LIB.
In 2017, with rapid development of bicycle sharing , China e-bikes output is 36.64M, year on year increases 13.96%. ASIACHEM estimates that, in 2017, China e-bikes totally consumed 1.57GWh LIB.
5. Energy Storage
In Oct, 2017, NDRC, MOF, MOST, MIIT and NEA joint released ‘Guidance on Promote Energy Storage Technology and Industry Development’.
‘Guidance’ points out, in the next 10 years, to promote related work by 2 stages. Stage 1, realize transiting from R&D and demonstration to preliminary stage of commercialization; and Stage 2, realize changing from preliminary stage of commercialization to scaled development.
Currently, LIB mainly used in energy storage field is LFP batteries. ASIACHEM estimates that, in 2017, China energy storage field totally consumed 5.2GWh LIB.
6. Others
ASIACHEM research indicates that, China LIB output is estimated to be 88.7GWh in 2017, above 5 fields totally estimate consumed 73.92GWh LIB. Besides, there are 14.51GWh LIB include enterprise stocks, export, and used in power banks and e-tools etc. fields.
