Ouyang Minggao: China’s NEVs Gain Edge Through Pure-Electric Strategy, Set for Tech Ecosystem Competition in the 15th Five-Year Plan

At the High-Level Forum on Intelligent and Electric Vehicle Development held on April 11, 2026, Professor Ouyang Minggao of Tsinghua University stated that the success of China's new energy vehicle (NEV) industry stems from the pure-electric-drive technology transition strategy established in 2009. This strategy centered on traction batteries, diverging from the engine-focused approaches adopted overseas. The development of traction batteries has passed through three critical milestones: the suspension of ternary batteries in buses in 2014, BYD’s launch of blade batteries in 2020, and the upcoming implementation of a new safety standard mandating “non-flammable, non-explosive” performance. Looking ahead to the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026–2030), competition in the industry will shift from individual technologies to comprehensive technological systems, with key priorities including end-to-end safety, all-climate ultra-fast charging, high-efficiency operation under all driving conditions, and all-solid-state batteries. Specifically, the new battery safety regulations will require thermoelectric separation technology; all-climate ultra-fast charging will integrate fast-charging batteries, low-temperature pulse heating, external forced cooling, and integrated photovoltaic-storage-charging-swapping solutions; and all-solid-state batteries are expected to achieve an energy density of 300 Wh/kg and enter vehicle applications by the end of the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Professor Ouyang forecasts that by 2030, NEVs will account for over 70% of China’s passenger vehicle market, with the ratio of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs, including range-extended models) no less than 7:3. The total NEV fleet in China is projected to reach between 100 million and 150 million units, with green electricity consumption exceeding 50% of total usage. He emphasized that electric vehicles represent the most efficient means of utilizing green electricity, offer the strongest integration potential with renewable energy, and—through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology—can even operate at “negative cost,” positioning them as China’s flagship product for international markets.