Tiger Ming Zhang examines China’s lead‑acid battery industry and the innovators driving its global growth.
According to statistical reports from China’s lead-acid battery industry associations, total shipments of lead-acid batteries in 2024 reached 413GWh, with a turnover of $37.7 billion (RMB269.6bn) and a CAGR increase of 10.6%. The Secretary General of the China Lead-Acid Battery Industry Association analysed manufacturing and sales volumes for 2024 and expressed strong optimism about the market’s development in 2025 and beyond.
She stated: “According to the statistics of 37 registered enterprises in the industry, the production and sales volume of automotive batteries for SLI in 2024 reached 106.97GWh. The total output of 11 stationary battery manufacturers reached 9.08GWh. The production of electric bicycle batteries has reached 167.69GWh, becoming the largest share product in lead-acid batteries market in China”.
This industrial development and progress cannot be achieved solely by battery manufacturers themselves. The technological advances of related products and supporting industries, together with improvements in the supply chain, are among the key reasons that have ultimately driven the current progress of lead-acid batteries in China. Lead-acid batteries have been continuously researched, tested and innovated by scientists due to their unique electrochemical reactions and near 100% recyclability.
Let us now consider the current situation and importance of industries related to lead-acid batteries from three perspectives: Shandong Jinkeli Power Technology, a supplier of battery additives; Nanjing Fibreglass Research and Design Institute, a separator supplier; and Hunan RE Technology, a solution provider for battery recycling with up-to-date technology.
Jinkeli Technology
To improve the high-rate discharge performance of batteries at low temperatures and prevent negative plate shrinkage during charge/discharge cycles, additives play a crucial role in enhancing electrochemical function. They are an essential raw material and a key factor in the performance of lead-acid batteries from multiple perspectives. Whether applied to the positive or negative electrode, additives enhance various aspects of battery performance, including cycle life, capacity, energy density, low-temperature behaviour, and fast charging and discharging characteristics.
Jinkeli Technology originated in the 1980s, when lead-acid batteries began to develop in China through the import of foreign technology. Today, it has grown into an international cooperative, a vital part of the global supply chain, and an innovative battery solution provider for the world’s lead-acid battery industry.
A conversation with Xing Yanchao, general manager of Jinkeli, revealed that in the future the company will pursue an innovative and guided additive solution strategy across various electrochemical battery systems.
In the development of China’s battery industry, Jinkeli is undoubtedly a landmark presence as a solution provider of battery additives. The company is a leading and internationally renowned supplier of comprehensive additive solutions in China, with three major production bases in Zichuan, Gaoqing and Vietnam. It serves as Secretary General of the Asia-Pacific Committee of the Consortium for Battery Innovation and is a member of the Battery Storage Branch of the China Electrical Equipment Industry Association.
The company provides customers with complete battery solutions centred on Jinkeli pre-mixed composite additives, alongside products such as Borregaard lignin, high-purity humic acid, ultrafine barium sulphate, Cabot carbon black, short fibres, 4BS, graphite, graphene, stannous sulphate, and antimony trioxide.
In the face of global carbon neutrality goals and the wave of green, low‑carbon transformation, Jinkeli has consistently adhered to its two core strategies of ‘technological innovation and internationalisation’. The company has continuously increased R&D investment, accelerated technological progress, strengthened enterprise cooperation, and is committed to building an internationally leading collaborative innovation platform. It provides customers with advanced battery solutions, promotes integration and innovation across the global battery industry chain, and drives continuous technological advancement in the sector.
Jinkeli operates joint laboratories with Norway’s Borregaard, the United States’ Cabot, and the United States’ Gore Group to carry out technological research and development with downstream battery companies. The CBI Jinkeli Innovation Centre, in collaboration with the Consortium for Battery Innovation and the Advanced Battery Materials Industry Innovation Research Institute with Shandong University of Technology, are focused on developing advanced new products, technologies, and battery formulations.
Through multiple breakthrough R&D achievements, now widely applied across battery fields such as SLI, start‑stop, power, energy storage, and backup power, Jinkeli has become a leading force in the industry, contributing significantly to the global development of lead‑acid battery technology.
The project ‘Study of battery positive additives for energy storage in Jinkeli’ has passed evaluation and been listed in the CBI research programme for 2024–2025, as one of five companies participating with financial support, and the only one from China. The project is progressing well and aims to improve battery cycle life through the modification of positive additives, with periodic results being reported.
JEV series products from Jinkeli are long‑life formulations for e‑bike batteries, developed by modifying traditional positive materials and introducing new compounds based on studies of the mechanisms of various metals and carbon materials. Results show that battery cycle life has doubled, achieving 1,000 cycles under full charge/discharge at a two‑hour rate.
The negative formulation from Jinkeli has improved e‑bike performance at low temperatures of -18°C, delivering 20% higher capacity than conventional formulations and doubling cycle life. This innovative formulation has been adopted by many battery companies in response to market demand. For end-users, it means higher power and longer driving distances; for the industry, it reinforces the value of lead‑acid batteries in the face of competition from lithium‑ion technology, securing their important position in the e‑bike market.
Although lead‑acid batteries offer low cost, good safety, and high recyclability, they are limited by low energy density. Jinkeli’s high‑energy‑density positive additives improve capacity by 23.7% at the two‑hour rate and 8.5% at the 20‑hour rate. They also increase charge acceptance by 5.65%, deliver capacity at -18°C of 43.77%, and achieve 100% CCA (cold cranking amperes) performance across 10s, 30s and 90s voltage to 1V. These advances enable longer driving distances and a better user experience.
Ultimately, innovative formulations support the battery industry by extending service life and improving resource efficiency. Jinkeli’s R&D team has also developed a new generation of additives for Idle Stop Start (ISS) battery applications, based on in‑depth research and analysis of automotive battery failure models. Laboratory tests and client feedback show cycle life improvements of more than 200%.
Under ISO9000/IATF16949 certification, Jinkeli has promoted total quality management, lean management, and digital management, positioning itself as a smart benchmark factory centred on product quality. By introducing advanced technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), big data, and artificial intelligence, Jinkeli has established an intelligent manufacturing management platform that enables transparent production, quality traceability, and data‑driven decision‑making.
The implementation of warehouse management systems (WMS) and Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) has synchronised logistics and information flow, improving efficiency and standardisation in warehouse management. Integration of Enterprise resource planning (ERP) and WMS systems has achieved full process information control, strengthened production scheduling and quality control, addressed shortcomings in traditional data management, improved warehouse utilisation, and enhanced product quality assurance. These measures have delivered integrated control across the entire process from order to delivery, including procurement, production and sales.
Jinkeli’s product assurance and overall capabilities continue to improve. The company provides additive solutions to over 300 customers in more than 30 countries and regions worldwide, creating greater value with high‑quality products and services.
Looking ahead, Jinkeli will continue to monitor global battery industry trends, with the strategic goal of becoming a global leader in comprehensive solutions for battery additives. It will accelerate the integration of advanced technologies, promote industry innovation and development, and remain committed to creating value for customers through higher‑quality products, more efficient services, and innovative technologies – becoming the most trusted partner in the sector. By increasing R&D investment, expanding international cooperation, introducing advanced technology and management practices, and enhancing core competitiveness, Jinkeli aims to make greater contributions to the development of the global battery industry.
Nanjing Fiberglass Research and Design Institute
Founded in 1964, Nanjing Fiberglass Research and Design Institute is a leading technology‑driven enterprise integrating R&D, design, manufacturing, testing and evaluation. As the origin of China’s fibreglass industry technology and an important subsidiary of China National Building Material Group (CNBM), the Institute plays a major role in the national new‑materials sector.
Although lithium‑ion batteries dominate in terms of gravimetric and volumetric energy density, lead-acid batteries retain unique advantages in safety, cost-effectiveness, and cycle life. These attributes underpin a strong and resilient market position in specific application domains.
Against the backdrop of ongoing discussions about ‘lead‑to‑lithium substitution’, Nanjing Fiberglass Institute emphasises that lead-acid and lithium‑ion batteries differ fundamentally in material characteristics and core application scenarios. They should therefore be viewed as complementary technologies rather than simple substitutes.
Lead-acid batteries have established a highly robust market position in applications where safety is paramount (e.g. automotive start-stop systems, low‑voltage auxiliary power) and where cost sensitivity is high (e.g. light‑duty motive power). Lithium‑ion batteries are predominantly deployed in use cases with stringent requirements for energy and power density, such as NEV traction battery systems and grid‑scale energy storage.
Downstream applications of lead-acid batteries span the automotive industry, telecommunications backup and energy storage, and standby power for power systems and critical infrastructure. This breadth of deployment highlights the enduring and irreplaceable value of lead-acid technology in the broader energy‑storage ecosystem.
Low‑voltage auxiliary batteries in NEVs have an average replacement cycle of approximately two-to-three years. This characteristic gives rise to a sizeable stock‑replacement and aftermarket sector with ‘high‑frequency, rigid demand’, providing sustained incremental business potential for related separator products. Taken together, these trends suggest that lead-acid batteries will maintain a strong market position in their advantageous application scenarios for the foreseeable technological cycle, while continuing to drive demand for innovation in high‑performance separator materials.
Leveraging six decades of expertise in glass‑fibre technology, Nanjing Fiberglass Institute has developed a core product matrix spanning multiple battery systems.
- AGM separators: Designed for a wide spectrum of lead-acid battery applications, with each series optimised for duty profile, operating environment, and service life requirements. All AGM grades feature high porosity, excellent electrolyte uptake, low internal resistance, and robust mechanical strength, supporting stable cycling performance and high reliability.
- Pasting paper: Precise thickness control and well‑designed pore structure make these papers well suited for dust‑reduced, low‑waste, and highly automated plate‑making processes, meeting the clean‑production requirements of modern lead-acid battery manufacturing.
- Lithium primary battery separators (LT Series): Targeting chemistries such as lithium thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl₂) and lithium manganese dioxide (Li-MnO₂), these separators exhibit extremely high electrolyte uptake, low internal resistance, and excellent chemical and dimensional stability across wide temperature ranges. They are widely applied in smart metering, IoT devices, industrial sensing, and long‑life backup power, where stable voltage output and very low self‑discharge are required over lifetimes often exceeding 10 years.
- Glass‑fibre separators for sodium‑ion and aqueous zinc‑ion batteries: Developed for coin‑type batteries, these separators possess high wettability in aqueous electrolytes, excellent ionic conductivity pathways, and good mechanical integrity, supporting stable cycling behaviour and suppressing dendrite growth. Their tuneable thickness and porosity make them adaptable to different cell designs in laboratory research and emerging commercial devices.
- Insulation materials: Beyond electrochemical separators, Nanjing Fiberglass Institute leverages its wet-laid inorganic fibre technology to provide a family of thermal insulation materials for batteries and related electrical equipment, including GF separators for thermal insulation, GF mats for new‑energy thermal insulation, and pure inorganic fibre papers.
Supported by profound technical capabilities and sharp market insight, Nanjing Fiberglass Institute has forged stable collaborations with leading global battery manufacturers. Its customer base includes international companies such as Clarios, Exide and EnerSys, as well as domestic leaders including Sail, Camel Group and Narada Power.
Looking ahead, the Institute’s strategic roadmap emphasises further exploration of latent market demand. While consolidating its core competitiveness in lead-acid battery separators, it will continue to refine and enrich its diversified product system for future energy technologies. Guided by an innovation‑driven development strategy, Nanjing Fiberglass Institute is committed to providing advanced material solutions that support the sustainable development of the global new‑energy industry.
RE Technology
Founded in 2017 in the Xiangjiang New Area of Hunan Province, Hunan RE Technology was established with the aim of providing solutions for a clean environment and sustainable recycling industries, including the safe emission and efficient utilisation of hazardous waste and advanced battery recycling. It is a national high‑tech enterprise that integrates key technology R&D, equipment innovation, engineering transformation, project design, and full‑process production management.
As a certified ‘Specialised and Sophisticated Small Giant’ enterprise, RE Technology has partnered with Central South University on research and application projects and has become a reserve enterprise for listing on the Science and Technology Innovation Board (ChiNext).
Today, RE Technology’s influence has expanded globally across environmental recycling and battery regeneration, establishing itself as a leading force in China and an important supplier in the international market. With advanced metallurgical recycling solutions, high‑efficiency resource recovery systems, and comprehensive waste‑disposal technologies, the company delivers integrated, sustainable and high‑performance recycling solutions worldwide.
Its technical packages are designed for battery recycling, electroplating waste treatment, safe handling of high‑arsenic materials, recycling of tin‑containing hazardous waste, and the melting and vitrification disposal of waste incineration residues. These packages are all supported by independent intellectual property. The company’s core equipment – the RE‑series clean smelting system with continuous oxygen‑enriched side blowing – is used in hazardous waste treatment with an annual capacity exceeding 5.5 million tonnes. This includes lead‑acid battery recycling and refining of around 3.3 million tonnes per year.
Thanks to continuous innovation, RE Technology has achieved cumulative turnover of around $224 million (RMB1.6bn), with its business primarily in China and exports beginning in 2023. Its customers include Tianneng Holdings, Leoch International, Shandong Shuifa, and Guangdong Denshi Group, with a growing presence in Asia and Africa.
Core technologies include:
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Partial view of Dahua side-blown furnace Low‑temperature lead recycling with continuous oxygen‑enriched side blowing: Developed to address high energy consumption, low treatment efficiency, high soot emissions, and poor sulphur recovery in traditional lead‑acid battery recycling. This dual‑furnace oxidation-reduction process significantly improves efficiency and sustainability, supporting annual treatment capacity of over 5.5 million tonnes.
- Electroplating waste recycling: Traditional processes suffer from low recovery efficiency, high costs, and pollutant control issues. RE Technology developed enriched‑oxygen melting and electro‑thermal furnace technology, forming a dual molten pool coupling clean process. Recognised by China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment and listed in the National Catalogue of Recommended Environmental Protection Technologies and Equipment (2023), it has been deployed by Dongshi, Yuming, and Runhong, treating over 520,000 tonnes of copper‑containing sludge annually.
- Collaborative resource utilisation of multi‑source heavy‑metal hazardous waste: This oxidation-reduction-fuming continuous melting process reduces energy consumption and costs while ensuring complete arsenic removal. Awarded by China’s non‑ferrous metals industry and included in Hunan Province’s Advanced Technology List, it is used by companies such as Tengchi, Guizhou Zhongli, Wuzhou Huaxi, Guangxi RE and Tianli Metal Refine, with a combined annual capacity exceeding 900,000 tonnes.
