From Nikkei Asia, February 12:
Beijing forms national alliance in all-out effort to revolutionize the EV market
China's battery and car makers have united as part of a government-led drive to commercialize all solid-state batteries, challenging Japan and the West in an area of technology that could revolutionize the electric vehicle market.
Aiming to build a supply chain for solid-state batteries by 2030, Beijing in January set up a consortium, the China All-Solid-State Battery Collaborative Innovation Platform (CASIP), which brings together government, academia and industry, including EV battery rivals CATL and BYD.
China is stepping up research and development of the next-generation batteries, leveraging artificial intelligence and other technologies.
"We need to be prepared for the risk that all-solid-state battery technology could overturn" China's advantage in automotive batteries, said Ouyang Minggao, a Tsinghua University professor who specializes in development of automotive-related technologies, during a ceremony marking the establishment of the organization in Beijing on Jan. 21.
Ouyang emphasized the importance of setting up the cross-sector body during a speech to more than 200 representatives of government agencies, industry, universities, research institutes and investment funds. The consortium will work on basic research, key technologies, and joint development and manufacturing of EVs equipped with solid-state batteries, in addition to setting up a supply chain for them.
CASIP aims to develop and manufacture solid-state batteries that can compete globally, with Chinese companies as the center.
Battery makers participating in the alliance include CATL, formally Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd., BYD subsidiary FinDreams Battery, CALB, EVE Energy and Gotion High-tech. Six of the top 10 automotive battery makers globally are taking part in the initiative, showcasing China's "all-star" lineup. Automakers, mainly state-owned enterprises, as well as private automakers BYD and Nio are also taking part....
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