Development of Lithium and Its Downstream Power Battery Industry Chain in China

Abstract

The high-quality development of lithium resources and the downstream power battery industry chain is crucial for China’s economic transformation and the steady development of strategic emerging industries. This paper analyzes the implications of lithium and its downstream power battery industry chain, which comprise resource, smelting processing, key material and product, and recycling ends. Based on this, the necessity of high-quality development of relevant industrial chain and its basic situation are expounded. Due to natural and ecological constraints, the expansion of domestic lithium ore production is restricted. The international competition for resources has led to a sharp increase in China's import risks. The core patents on technologies such as cathode materials and electrolytes are monopolized by foreign companies. There remains a gap between domestic and international advanced level in key materials and battery technology, and the accumulation of emerging technologies is inadequate. The secondary recycling system of waste power battery resources is incomplete, and the industrial order needs to be regulated. Focusing on the high-quality development of lithium and its downstream power battery industry chain, the stage development goals for 2025 and 2035 are demonstrated. The construction path proposed includes constructing a safe and stable resource supply system using multiple dimensions, developing key materials and new battery technologies by strengthening the lithium battery technology system and talent reserves, and promoting the coordinated development of all links of the industrial chain while focusing on innovation of key materials and products. Furthermore, we propose the following suggestions: (1) improving the top-level design to form an integrated management model of the entire industry chain, (2) increasing financial support to enable the mutual promotion of basic and applied research, (3) encouraging cooperation among enterprises in the upstream and downstream links to enhance the synergy effect of the industrial chain, and (4) strengthening industry-university-research cooperation to cultivate interdisciplinary talents for the industrial chain.

Keywords

• lithium
• power battery
• industrial chain
• high-quality development