The 2026 World Power Battery Conference opened on September 3 in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, drawing global attention to the latest advancements and strategic directions in the power battery industry. The event, which runs through September 5, features thematic sessions on industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, new energy storage technologies, and battery recycling. By fostering high-level international exchanges, the conference aims to deepen cross-border industrial collaboration and advance international cooperation in the power battery sector.
At the conference, data revealed China's remarkable progress in power battery development. The driving range of lithium-powered batteries has extended from approximately 100 kilometers in the early days to as much as 1,000 kilometers today. Charging time has been slashed from hours to around 10 minutes, while battery durability has increased from roughly 300 charge cycles to as many as 1,500 cycles for energy storage batteries. Moreover, costs have plummeted by 90%, making electric vehicles more affordable and accessible.
Eight innovative power battery technologies for the 2025–2026 period were unveiled at the opening ceremony. These include power batteries supporting ultra-fast charging in about 10 minutes, hybrid solid-liquid batteries with a specific energy of 350 Wh/kg, and large-capacity, high-safety energy storage batteries ranging from 300 Ah to 600 Ah. These breakthroughs are expected to provide further impetus for innovation across the industry, reinforcing China's leadership in the global power battery market.
Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined three major development trends for the power battery industry. The first is battery safety across the entire lifecycle. China's mandatory national standard, Electric Vehicles Traction Battery Safety Requirements, took effect on July 1, stipulating that batteries must not catch fire or explode and that gases released must not harm vehicle occupants. Additionally, after 300 fast-charging cycles, batteries must still pass external short-circuit tests without igniting or exploding.
The second trend is AI empowerment across the whole chain. The application of AI to intelligent battery design, manufacturing, and management is set to reshape the battery industry across the entire technology, industrial, and value chains. This integration promises to optimize performance, reduce costs, and accelerate innovation. The third trend is green and low-carbon development throughout the full lifecycle, emphasizing sustainable practices from raw material extraction to end-of-life recycling.
At the conference, Wang He, founder and CTO of GALBOT, shared insights into the company's exploration of embodied intelligent robots. One of its latest products, which breaks through the workload limits of humanoid robots, was developed through deep integration with the power battery industry and has already been commercialized on a large scale at companies including CATL. Wang believes that leading players in the sector are likely to reach the "ChatGPT moment" for embodied intelligence by 2028. This would usher in a steep growth curve for the humanoid robotics industry, and the explosive growth of humanoid robots opens up a new horizon for the power battery sector.
Spain served as the Guest Country of Honor at this year's conference. Betanzos, the Spanish Ambassador to China, noted that Chinese investment in Spain is shifting from trade toward long-term industrial projects, bringing production to Spain, creating high-quality jobs, and establishing alliances with local Spanish companies. This reflects the growing international collaboration in the power battery industry.
The World Power Battery Conference was launched in Yibin in 2022, and this year marks the fifth year the city has hosted the event. The conference continues to serve as a vital platform for global stakeholders to discuss the future of power batteries, driving innovation and cooperation that will shape the industry's trajectory.
