Yibin to Host 2026 World Power Battery Conference

Industry leaders gathered in Yibin, Sichuan Province on September 3 for the 2026 World Power Battery Conference to evaluate power battery developments and supply chains. The event opened in Yibin, focusing on industry policies, cutting-edge technologies, and innovative applications. Officials said the sessions aim to deepen cross-border industrial collaboration through high-level international exchanges and advance international cooperation in the power battery sector. Spain served as the Guest Country of Honor, with the Spanish Ambassador to China noting that Chinese investment in the country is shifting from simple trade toward long-term industrial projects. Betanzos said this shift brings production to Spain, creates high-quality jobs, and establishes alliances with local companies.

Breakthroughs in performance and safety

Data released at the conference highlighted the rapid advancement of indigenously developed technologies. The driving range of lithium-powered batteries has expanded from around 100 kilometers to as much as 1,000 kilometers. Charging time has dropped from hours to approximately 10 minutes, while battery durability has increased from roughly 300 charge cycles to as many as 1,500 cycles for energy storage batteries. Costs have fallen by 90%.

At the opening ceremony, eight innovative technologies for the 2025–2026 period were unveiled. These include 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. This technological leap signifies a maturation of the supply chain that allows manufacturers to scale production while simultaneously enhancing the fundamental characteristics of the cells.

Academician Ouyang Minggao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences outlined three major trends in the sector. 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 the standard, batteries must not catch fire or explode, the gases they release must not harm occupants, and they must pass external short-circuit tests after 300 fast-charging cycles without igniting.

The second trend is AI empowerment across the whole chain. The application of AI to intelligent battery design, manufacturing, and management is reshaping the industry across technology, industrial, and value chains. The third is green and low-carbon development throughout the full lifecycle. These trends are interconnected, as improved safety standards often require advanced monitoring systems, which in turn rely on AI and sustainable manufacturing practices to meet the rigorous demands of the global market.

Robotics and the power battery link

At the conference, Wang He, founder and CTO of GALBOT, discussed the integration of embodied intelligent robots with the power battery industry. One of the company’s latest products breaks through the workload limits of humanoid robots and has been commercialized on a large scale at companies including CATL. Wang believes leading players in the sector are likely to reach the “ChatGPT moment” for embodied intelligence by 2028.

This, he said, would usher in a steep growth curve for the humanoid robotics industry. The explosive growth of humanoid robots, he added, opens a new horizon for the power battery sector. The demand for high-density energy storage solutions is driving the design of specialized batteries that can power complex robotic systems for extended durations.

Five years in Yibin

The World Power Battery Conference was launched in Yibin, Sichuan Province, in 2022, and this year marks the fifth year that the city has hosted the event. The event has evolved from a regional gathering into a key global forum that attracts industry giants and policymakers alike. The continuous hosting of the conference in Yibin has helped solidify the city’s status as a central hub for energy innovation. As the industry moves forward, the insights gained from these annual gatherings will likely continue to shape the trajectory of global power battery development for years to come.