The 2026 World Power Battery Conference opened on September 3 in Yibin, Sichuan Province, China, bringing together industry leaders, experts, and international delegates to discuss the future of power battery technology. The conference, which runs through September 8, focuses on industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, innovative applications, new energy storage technologies, and battery recycling. Through a series of thematic sessions, the event aims to deepen cross-border industrial collaboration and advance international cooperation in the power battery sector.
Data released at the conference highlighted China's remarkable progress in power battery development. According to official figures, the driving range of lithium-powered batteries has surged from roughly 100 kilometers in the early days to as much as 1,000 kilometers today. Charging time has been slashed 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 plummeted by 90%, making these technologies more accessible and affordable.
At the opening ceremony, eight innovative power battery technologies for the 2025–2026 period were unveiled. These include power batteries that support 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 and accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and renewable energy storage solutions.
Ouyang Minggao, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, outlined three major development trends for the power battery industry. 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. Under this standard, batteries must not catch fire or explode, gases released must not harm vehicle occupants, and after 300 fast-charging cycles, batteries must still pass external short-circuit tests without igniting or exploding. The second trend is AI empowerment across the whole chain, where artificial intelligence is applied to intelligent battery design, manufacturing, and management, reshaping the industry across technology, industrial, and value chains. The third trend is green and low-carbon development throughout the full lifecycle, emphasizing sustainability and environmental responsibility.
Wang He, founder and CTO of GALBOT, shared insights on the integration of embodied intelligent robots with the power battery industry. One of GALBOT's latest products, which breaks through the workload limits of humanoid robots, was developed through deep collaboration with the sector and has already been commercialized on a large scale at companies including CATL. Wang predicted that leading players in the sector are likely to reach the 'ChatGPT moment' for embodied intelligence by 2028, ushering in a steep growth curve for the humanoid robotics industry. This explosive growth, he noted, would open up new opportunities for the power battery sector.
Spain served as the Guest Country of Honor at this year's conference. Betanzos, the Spanish Ambassador to China, remarked that Chinese investment in Spain is shifting from trade toward long-term industrial projects, bringing production to Spain, creating high-quality jobs, and establishing alliances with local Spanish companies. This highlights the global impact and collaborative nature of the power battery industry.
The World Power Battery Conference was launched in Yibin in 2022, and this year marks the fifth consecutive year the city has hosted the event. The conference underscores Yibin's role as a hub for power battery innovation and international cooperation, with implications for the global transition to clean energy and sustainable transportation.
