"Electric China" Vision Takes Shape, High-Performance Batteries Key to Success

On July 10, at the 18th Academician Assembly of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Chen Liqun—a recipient of China's State Preeminent Science and Technology Award, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and a researcher at the Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences—delivered a report stating that the vision of an "Electric China" is gradually becoming a reality. This vision centers on three core pillars: electrification of transportation, intelligentization of equipment, and decarbonization of energy. Chen emphasized that high-performance batteries are key to realizing this vision. He noted that the primary challenge facing current lithium-ion batteries is increasing energy density while ensuring safety. Solid-state batteries, which offer both high energy density and enhanced safety, are regarded as a critical development direction. Additionally, given China's limited lithium resources, sodium-ion batteries are emerging as a viable complement to lithium-ion batteries.