In April 2026, the lithium battery industry will undergo structural transformation, with energy storage emerging as a new growth driver, while safety and recycling systems continue to advance.
Recently, significant progress has been made in the field of lithium-ion battery packs in terms of technological breakthroughs, industrial layout, and policy regulations

Energy storage becomes the primary driver for lithium battery growth
In April 2026, China's lithium battery production schedule increased by 7.3% month-on-month, reaching approximately 235GWh in total. Notably, the proportion of energy storage battery cells surpassed 41% for the first time, marking the industry's formal transition from a "power-driven" phase to a dual-driven stage of "power + energy storage." Leading companies such as EVE Energy have already launched 6.9MWh energy storage systems, achieving large-scale deliveries. These systems boast a cycle life of up to 10,000 cycles and maintain temperature differences within 5°C, significantly enhancing safety and cost efficiency.

Battery safety technology advances to a new stage of "active blocking"
Multiple technologies achieve breakthroughs:

The team led by Hu Yongsheng from the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CSHNA), has achieved the world's first complete thermal runaway suppression in sodium-ion batteries, utilizing a polymerizable non-flammable electrolyte (PNE) to realize "zero spread, zero ignition, zero explosion.".
Lantern "Amber Battery" and BYD Blade Battery achieve intrinsic safety features such as resistance to puncture-induced fires and continued operation in water immersion through structural and material innovations.
The new national standard GB38031-2025 will take effect in July 2026, requiring that lithium batteries "do not catch fire or explode" within two hours after thermal runaway, driving the entire industry to raise safety standards.

The electric bicycle battery recycling system is being accelerated for improvement
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the General Administration of the Supply and Marketing Cooperatives jointly issued a notice to promote the use of over 40,000 recycling stations in the supply and marketing system to establish a nationwide recycling network for lithium-ion batteries in electric bicycles. As of now, more than 5,000 recycling outlets have been established across the country, covering approximately 60% of county-level areas, supporting flexible models such as "exchange + recycling" and "Internet + recycling.".

The supply of raw materials faces periodic disruptions
Zimbabwe's lithium export ban continues, compounded by shipping delays, which are expected to impact domestic lithium salt supply starting May 2026. This will drive the industry chain into a stock-clearing phase, creating upward pressure on lithium carbonate prices in stages.

The industrialization of sodium-ion batteries is accelerating, with CATL unveiling its first sodium-ion battery for energy storage
CATL showcased its sodium-ion battery for energy storage at the ESIE 2026 exhibition for the first time, featuring a capacity exceeding 300Ah and a cycle life surpassing 15,000 cycles. Commercial deployment is expected within the year, complementing lithium batteries and further reducing energy storage costs