Chinese authorities have changed their policy towards lithium-ion e-bike batteries in favour of lead-acid, in the wake of fire safety concerns.
In an announcement via the China Daily news agency, the Ministry of Commerce said absorbed glass mat (AGM) lead-acid batteries are now being preferred by manufacturers for domestic e-bikes. This includes manufacturers like Yadea and NIU. Both companies still export lithium-ion e-bikes for now.
E-bike users are being encouraged to turn in their lithium-ion e-bikes as part of a trade-in programme, according to the ministry. E-bikes handed in will be dismantled and batteries recycled. Subsidies will be provided for users to purchase ones with sealed lead-acid batteries, it said.
The ministry said this will help phase out obsolete electric bikes with safety risks. Lithium-ion batteries became a standard in China over the last decade, before which lead-acid batteries were predominant.
In 2024, the Chinese government issued safety guidelines for lithium-ion e-bike batteries with an output of up to 60V. These guidelines were created due to fires started by poorly made, cheap e-bikes.
Manufacturers are also looking at sodium-ion technology as an alternative. Yadea already released its first two e-bike models with a sodium-ion battery in January 2025. It claims the battery on these models are efficient with a battery energy density of 145Wh/kg, offering a cycle life of up to 1,500 cycles at room temperature.
