The 2026 World Power Battery Conference, held in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, from September 3, brought together industry leaders to discuss the future of power batteries. The conference focused on industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, new energy storage, and battery recycling, aiming to foster international collaboration and pragmatic partnerships in the sector.
Data released at the conference highlighted significant advancements in China's power battery industry. The driving range of lithium-powered batteries has increased from around 100 kilometers in the early days to up to 1,000 kilometers today. Charging times have been reduced from hours to approximately 10 minutes, while battery durability has improved from about 300 charge cycles to as many as 1,500 cycles for energy storage batteries. Additionally, costs have dropped by 90%.
At the opening ceremony, eight innovative power battery technologies for the 2025–2026 period were unveiled. 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 drive further innovation across the industry.
Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined three major development trends. 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, mandating that batteries must not catch fire or explode, and must pass external short-circuit tests after 300 fast-charging cycles. The second trend is AI empowerment across the whole chain, with applications in intelligent battery design, manufacturing, and management reshaping the industry. The third is green and low-carbon development throughout the full lifecycle.
Wang He, founder and CTO of GALBOT, shared insights into embodied intelligent robots. One of the company's latest products, developed through deep integration with the power battery industry, has been commercialized on a large scale at companies including CATL. Wang predicts that leading players in the sector could reach the 'ChatGPT moment' for embodied intelligence by 2028, ushering in a steep growth curve for the humanoid robotics industry and opening new opportunities for the power battery sector.
Spain served as the Guest Country of Honor. The Spanish Ambassador to China, Betanzos, noted that Chinese investment in Spain is shifting from trade toward long-term industrial projects, creating jobs and establishing alliances with local companies.
The World Power Battery Conference was launched in Yibin in 2022, and this year marks the fifth anniversary of the city hosting the event. The conference continues to serve as a pivotal platform for sharing knowledge and fostering international cooperation in the power battery industry.
