The 2026 World Power Battery Conference, held from September 3 in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, brought together industry leaders, experts, and officials to discuss the latest advancements and strategic directions in the power battery sector. The conference, which runs through September, features thematic sessions on industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, new energy storage technologies, and battery recycling. These sessions aim to foster cross-border collaboration and international partnerships, reflecting the conference's role as a pivotal platform for global exchange.
According to data released at the conference, China's indigenous technological developments have substantially transformed the power battery landscape. The driving range of lithium-powered batteries has expanded from approximately 100 kilometers in the early stages to up to 1,000 kilometers today. Charging times have been reduced from several 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. Notably, costs have plummeted by 90%, making electric vehicles more accessible and accelerating the energy transition.
At the opening ceremony, eight innovative power battery technologies for the 2025–2026 period were unveiled, including batteries capable of 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 poised to drive further innovation and industrial upgrading.
Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined three major development trends. The first is ensuring battery safety across the entire lifecycle. China's mandatory national standard, Electric Vehicles Traction Battery Safety Requirements, which took effect on July 1, mandates that batteries must not catch fire or explode, emissions must be harmless to occupants, and after 300 fast-charging cycles, they must pass external short-circuit tests without ignition. The second trend is AI empowerment across the whole chain, where AI applications in battery design, manufacturing, and management will reshape the industry. The third is green and low-carbon development throughout the full lifecycle, emphasizing sustainability.
Wang He, founder and CTO of GALBOT, discussed the company's foray into embodied intelligent robots. One of its latest products, which exceeds the workload limits of humanoid robots, was developed in close integration with the power battery industry and has been commercialized on a large scale at companies including CATL. Wang predicted that leading players in the sector could reach the 'ChatGPT moment' for embodied intelligence by 2028, potentially triggering exponential growth in humanoid robotics and opening new avenues for power battery applications.
Spain served as the Guest Country of Honor at this year's conference. The Spanish Ambassador to China, Betanzos, highlighted that Chinese investment in Spain is transitioning from trade to long-term industrial projects, bringing production, creating high-quality jobs, and fostering alliances with local Spanish companies. This underscores the international cooperation and mutual benefits that the conference aims to promote.
The World Power Battery Conference, initiated in Yibin in 2022, has become a key annual event for the industry. This year's gathering reaffirmed Yibin's role as a hub for power battery innovation and collaboration, setting the stage for future developments that will shape the global energy landscape.
