The global players in the lithium battery industry are primarily concentrated in East Asia.
In 2020, LG, CATL, and Panasonic together accounted for more than 70% of the total lithium battery production.
Although Panasonic and LG obtained battery samples from Kechuang Bio through their own channels, Kechuang Bio only sent samples to battery manufacturers in China, which in itself is a signal.
"Based on the samples obtained from Kechuang Biotechnology, they have achieved breakthroughs in cathode materials and separators. The cathode material uses lithium metal, and the separator has an added graphene coating."
"The lithium metal cathode uses a honeycomb structure MIEC channel to release the pressure caused by the expansion of lithium metal during charging, which is a solution that has been used before."
"Science and Technology Innovation Biotechnology's lithium metal cathode has taken a big step forward on this basis. Their microstructure is more complex, but it is indeed more effective."
"The unique graphene coating also gives Linshu good stability as a positive electrode, while significantly improving the efficiency of battery charging and discharging."
"Moreover, the performance of the samples from Kechuang Biotechnology is not much different from what they claim, and may even be better. The energy density of 700kWh/kg is more than three times that of commonly used power batteries on the market."
"If Kechuang Bio's lithium battery cathode material and graphene coating can achieve large-scale mass production, then our batteries will no longer have any advantages."
"At least our current 4680 battery has no advantage over the new cathode material from Kechuang Biotechnology."
The 4680 battery is Panasonic's current high-end battery model, which was personally launched by Tesla founder Elon Musk at Tesla's Battery Day in 2020.
The 4860 has an energy density of 300 kWh/kg, while the lithium battery from Kechuang Biotechnology has more than double that, by an additional 100 kWh/kg.
M. Takahashi, the R&D General Manager of Panasonic Battery, continued, "China is a rapidly developing country. I have visited China many times, and its battery industry has always developed rapidly."
“When I attended the 8th South China International Lithium Battery Forum in 2016, the founder of CATL was still learning from us.”
"As a result, CATL's market share exceeded ours by 5% in 2020."
"Kechuang Bio is even more frightening. Even our laboratory's newest generation of 4680 energy density is still far inferior to Kechuang Bio."
"Our hope lies in the fact that the cathode material of Kechuang Bio is very expensive to produce. Because it involves the design of lithium metal ion structure at the micro level, the cost is estimated to be not low."
Panasonic's 4680 battery uses a "tabless" electrode with one end coated with conductive material, allowing it to connect directly to the casing or a specially designed cover. Current is conducted directly between the electrode current collector, cover, and casing.
This design increases the area of electrical conduction and shortens the distance of electrical conduction, thereby reducing its internal resistance by 5 times.
At the same time, the cost of the 4680 is reduced by 14% due to the absence of the metal conductor, the tab.
"If the cost of Kechuang Bio's lithium battery technology is reduced to a level lower than ours per kWh/kg, then we will have no choice but to increase our R&D investment and obtain patent licenses from Kechuang Bio."
"Science and Technology Innovation Biotechnology is at least three years ahead of us in terms of technology."
Panasonic has been supplying batteries to Tesla for a long time, making it one of Tesla's earliest core suppliers.
Previously, new energy vehicles used a single battery or several large batteries combined together. Until Tesla entered the market, it used 7104 Panasonic ternary lithium batteries connected in series to form a complete power system.
Only then did major new energy vehicle manufacturers begin to use small batteries connected in series.
This is because the battery management system can improve battery efficiency.
Even now, Tesla's battery management system remains a leader among major new energy vehicle manufacturers.
The partnership between Panasonic and Tesla is deeply intertwined. As early as 2014, Panasonic and Tesla jointly invested 5 billion US dollars to build a Gigafactory in Nevada, specifically to produce cylindrical battery cells needed for Tesla vehicles.
After M. Takahashi finished speaking, Xiong Zhongxin, who had been keeping his eyes closed, suddenly opened them: "Don't have any illusions. The cathode material of Kechuang Biotechnology is definitely not a product of the laboratory."
"If it were just a laboratory product, it wouldn't be directly supplied to major manufacturers."
"Science and Technology Innovation Biotechnology is a formidable company. Whether it's endorphins or brain-computer interfaces, Science and Technology Innovation Biotechnology's technology is a generation ahead of its competitors."
"We must be prepared to face the challenges of scientific and technological innovation in biotechnology."
M.Takahashi nodded and said, "Hey!"
He Xiongzhongxin continued, "First, we need to find out the attitude of Kechuang Biotechnology."
"Since Kechuang Biotechnology is willing to license its brain-computer interface technology and endorphin technology to other companies, it means that they are willing to cooperate."
"Both Sony and Samsung have obtained patent licenses for brain-computer interfaces. It's unlikely that only lithium battery technology is not being licensed to foreign companies in China."
“I will send the president of Panasonic Greater China to find out the news, but you also need to be prepared that Kechuang Bio is unwilling to license our technology.”
"You just said that Kechuang Bio's technology is three years ahead of ours, which means that following our own technological path, it would take us three years to reach Kechuang Bio's current performance?"
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