Global Competition in Lithium-Ion Battery Industry Intensifies: Technical Standards and IP Build a Moat for Sustainable Global Expansion

In 2025, the competitive landscape of the global lithium-ion battery industry has witnessed a significant upgrade, shifting from mere capacity expansion to a systematic rivalry centered on "technical standard-setting, intellectual property (IP) layout, and local compliance." Against the backdrop of accelerated energy transition in major global economies and the continuous expansion of lithium battery application scenarios, "sustainable global expansion" (or "going far") no longer relies solely on industrial chain scale. Instead, it increasingly depends on enterprises' core discourse power in formulating technical rules and protecting intellectual property.
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The competition over technical standards has become a key focus of global rivalry. In the latest revision of the "Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Standards" launched by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), enterprises from China, the European Union (EU), and Japan have engaged in intense debates over thermal runaway protection indicators. China's proposed technical solution of "15-minute thermal diffusion protection for battery packs" has gained support from companies such as South Korea's LG Energy Solution and the U.S.-based QuantumScape, and is expected to become a mainstream global standard. Meanwhile, the EU is pushing to incorporate "full-lifecycle carbon footprint accounting" into mandatory standards, requiring lithium batteries exported to Europe from 2027 onwards to provide complete carbon data covering the entire chain from mineral extraction to recycling. Among domestic enterprises, BYD, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed the "General Technical Specifications for Sodium-Ion Batteries," which has been adopted as a national recommended standard by countries including Thailand and Brazil, helping the company seize opportunities in emerging markets through standard output.
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IP barriers are reshaping the industry's competitive pattern. In 2025, the number of patent litigation cases in the global lithium battery sector increased by 45% year-on-year, with the number of "337 Investigations" initiated by multinational enterprises against Chinese companies reaching a record high. CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.) has filed over 30,000 global patents, with core patents in solid-state electrolytes and battery management systems covering more than 120 countries and regions. The company has successfully sued multiple enterprises for patent infringement in Germany and the United States and obtained compensation. EVE Energy has established a "Global Patent Early Warning System" in partnership with patent agencies, effectively avoiding patent risks in the EU and Indian markets. As a result, the incidence of patent disputes in its overseas markets dropped by 60% year-on-year in 2025. Meanwhile, Chinese lithium battery enterprises are accelerating the establishment of patent alliances. The "China Lithium Battery IP Alliance," composed of 120 enterprises, has achieved over 5,000 patent cross-licenses, reducing the IP costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their global expansion.
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Industry analysts point out that the global lithium battery industry has entered a "deep-water zone," where technical standards and IP have become the core moat for enterprises to achieve "sustainable global expansion." In the future, enterprises must make coordinated efforts in technological R&D, standard-setting, and IP layout, while strengthening international cooperation and compliance management, to gain an advantage in the global systematic competition. As the global energy transition accelerates, enterprises with a comprehensive technical standard system and strong IP protection capabilities will be more likely to gain recognition in the global market and achieve long-term development advantages.
In 2025, the competitive landscape of the global lithium-ion battery industry has witnessed a significant upgrade, shifting from mere capacity expansion to a systematic rivalry centered on "technical standard-setting, intellectual property (IP) layout, and local compliance." Against the backdrop of accelerated energy transition in major global economies and the continuous expansion of lithium battery application scenarios, "sustainable global expansion" (or "going far") no longer relies solely on industrial chain scale. Instead, it increasingly depends on enterprises' core discourse power in formulating technical rules and protecting intellectual property.
​
The competition over technical standards has become a key focus of global rivalry. In the latest revision of the "Next-Generation Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Standards" launched by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), enterprises from China, the European Union (EU), and Japan have engaged in intense debates over thermal runaway protection indicators. China's proposed technical solution of "15-minute thermal diffusion protection for battery packs" has gained support from companies such as South Korea's LG Energy Solution and the U.S.-based QuantumScape, and is expected to become a mainstream global standard. Meanwhile, the EU is pushing to incorporate "full-lifecycle carbon footprint accounting" into mandatory standards, requiring lithium batteries exported to Europe from 2027 onwards to provide complete carbon data covering the entire chain from mineral extraction to recycling. Among domestic enterprises, BYD, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has developed the "General Technical Specifications for Sodium-Ion Batteries," which has been adopted as a national recommended standard by countries including Thailand and Brazil, helping the company seize opportunities in emerging markets through standard output.
​
IP barriers are reshaping the industry's competitive pattern. In 2025, the number of patent litigation cases in the global lithium battery sector increased by 45% year-on-year, with the number of "337 Investigations" initiated by multinational enterprises against Chinese companies reaching a record high. CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd.) has filed over 30,000 global patents, with core patents in solid-state electrolytes and battery management systems covering more than 120 countries and regions. The company has successfully sued multiple enterprises for patent infringement in Germany and the United States and obtained compensation. EVE Energy has established a "Global Patent Early Warning System" in partnership with patent agencies, effectively avoiding patent risks in the EU and Indian markets. As a result, the incidence of patent disputes in its overseas markets dropped by 60% year-on-year in 2025. Meanwhile, Chinese lithium battery enterprises are accelerating the establishment of patent alliances. The "China Lithium Battery IP Alliance," composed of 120 enterprises, has achieved over 5,000 patent cross-licenses, reducing the IP costs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their global expansion.
​
Industry analysts point out that the global lithium battery industry has entered a "deep-water zone," where technical standards and IP have become the core moat for enterprises to achieve "sustainable global expansion." In the future, enterprises must make coordinated efforts in technological R&D, standard-setting, and IP layout, while strengthening international cooperation and compliance management, to gain an advantage in the global systematic competition. As the global energy transition accelerates, enterprises with a comprehensive technical standard system and strong IP protection capabilities will be more likely to gain recognition in the global market and achieve long-term development advantages.