MIIT “Light Industry 2020 Plan” Promotes Development of Lithium Battery Industry

On August 5, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) released “Light Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)” (the “Light Industry 2020 Plan”), to implement and enforce the “Outline of of the 13th Five-Year Plan for the National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China” and “Made in China 2025”, guide innovation development of light industry in the next five years, push China to transform from “large nation of light industry” toward “strong nation of light industry”.

Battery industry is a member of the light industry big family, and also a key step for the development of downstream new energy vehicle, and energy storage industry. So in the “Light Industry 2020 Plan”, what new requirements have been put forward for the battery industry?

In the “Light Industry 2020 Plan” released by the MIIT this time, from key industry technology upgrading, new material R&D and intelligent manufacture aspects, it clarified key tasks of the battery industry during the “Thirteenth Five Year Plan” period. The detailed requirements are as follows:

Key industry technology upgrading aspect: It is required to complete upgrading of high-speed production technology and equipment for mercury-free alkaline zinc-manganese battery, upgrading of production technology for continuous plate electrode including continuous casting continuous rolling and continuous coating, upgrading of automated integration technology for power-type lead battery assembly line.

Key generic technology R&D and industrialization field: It is required to focus on developing ultra-long life service (8 year above) alkali zinc manganese battery, lead carbon battery production process, spiral start/stop battery for micro hybrid electric vehicle use, non lead plate grid technology for high specific lead battery.

New material R&D and application aspect: It is required to focus on developing high-end tensional steel strapping for disposable battery, carbon material for lead carbon battery use, high performance power lithium-ion battery positive and negative material, battery separator material, electrolyte material, additive, hydrogen-nickel battery low-cost new rare earth alloy material, fuel cell high-performance cheap platinum-substitute catalyst etc.

Elementary innovation platform construction aspect: Propel the construction of precision measurement system and Manufacture Execution System (MES), lithium-ion power battery measurement, analysis network and information platform, new lead battery technology innovation platform.

Battery machinery equipment manufacture field: Enhance the manufacture standard of mercury-free and automated production for zinc-manganese battery, silver oxide battery and zinc air battery equipment, improve production equipment for spiral lead battery, process and equipment for lead battery and lithium-ion battery automated production.

Intelligent development propelling engineering aspect: Propel application of such technologies as battery’s quality online monitoring, informatized transmission.

Energy-saving emission-reduction technology promotion engineering aspect: Focus on improving start-stop lead battery technology for new energy-saving automobile, continuous casting & continuous rolling of electrode plate, net punching process, lead battery tube-type electrode paste extrusion process technology, heavy-metal containing waste gas high efficiency processing technology, lead carbon battery technology, waste lead battery wet method smelting technology, lead battery acid circulation inner formation technology.

By proposing detailed requirements on new material R&D, machinery equipment intelligent trend, technology upgrading and energy saving & emission reduction for battery industry, the “Light Industry 2020 Plan” will further promote transition & upgrading of China’s battery industry, help strengthen collaboration and innovation of upstream / downstream industrial chain in the battery industry, adjust industrial structure, and enhance the quality of battery products.

In this time’s “Light Industry Development Plan (2016-2020)”, it explicitly pointed out to propel battery industry to develop toward eco-friendliness, safety, high performance, and long service life directions, speed up the R&D and industrialization of lithium-ion battery high performance electrode material, battery separator, electrolyte, new additive and advanced system integrated technologies, next-generation lead battery technologies such as spiral, and lead carbon battery, bipolar, non lead plate grid etc, key materials such as fuel cell’s proton exchange membrane, and platinum-substitute catalyst.

According to the “Light Industry 2020 Plan”, in the future China will place the emphasis on developing new disposable battery, new lead battery, power battery and fuel cell for new energy vehicle. Quicken the pace of lead battery enterprises to implement technology equipment upgrading and enhancement according to the “Standard Conditions for Lead Battery Industry (2015 version)”, actively drive forward the construction of waste lead battery recycling and reuse system.

Furthermore, the “Light Industry 2020 Plan” also put forward relevant requirements for battery equipment manufacture field, and battery application field.

Propelling automated development in battery machinery equipment: Battery machinery focuses on developing manufacture of lead battery continuous plate electrode, manufacture of power battery wide high-speed pole piece, automated formation and grading system and battery system test, waste battery sorting, dismantling and regeneration equipment. Speed up the domestic production progress of automated production lines for high-efficiency high-precision button cell battery.

Propel development of lithium battery bicycle and smart e-bike: The “Light Industry 2020 Plan” pointed out that, in the future bicycle industry will develop toward light-weight, diversified, fashionable, and intelligent directions. Consequently, it is required to accelerate R&D and application of high strength light-weight material, gear box, transmission system, new energy, smart sensing technology and Internet of Things technology etc, focus on developing diversified range of bicycles including fashionable and recreational, sport & fitness, long distance off-road and high performance folding bicycles, as well as qualified lithium-ion electric bike and smart electric bike.