The strength of Japanese enterprises in global battery competition

The world has begun to move towards a "zero carbon society" that will reduce net greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050. The premise is the use of renewable energy and electric vehicles, the popularization of batteries will become the key. In terms of lithium batteries, the products of Chinese and Korean enterprises have swept the market. But in order to enter the era of full electrification, we must reduce the cost of battery, ensure the safety, improve the power storage capacity and realize further evolution. Japanese enterprises also have business opportunities in the field of batteries.

Japan is the first country to commercialize lithium batteries, and has established an ecosystem involving various enterprises in the battery related fields.

The basic structure of lithium battery is to fill electrolyte between positive and negative electrodes. Lithium ion passes through the diaphragm between electrodes and charges and discharges repeatedly.

Lithium batteries lack any component to store power. As long as one of the components is improved, the performance of the battery can be greatly improved. The relevant enterprises are struggling with each other, and the battery related industries are developing. In addition to developing companies that can improve the performance of the battery, companies engaged in battery manufacturing and evaluation and testing also compete.

To achieve a zero carbon society, renewable energy power needs to be stored and used when there is a shortage of electricity. After the 2030's, Japan will change its new car to electric vehicle. The global lithium battery market is expected to expand further. According to Fuji economic forecast, only from the view of on-board lithium batteries, the global market size will be about 2.6 trillion yen in 2020, and it will be close to 7trillion yen by 2024.

Around 2000, Japanese enterprises occupied most of the global market in the field of small lithium batteries. Today, Chinese and South Korean enterprises control about 70% of the global vehicle lithium battery market. In the future, which enterprises will grasp the battery market? With the increasing value of batteries, more and more enterprises participate in the competition, and the power pattern will change. Japanese companies that are good at battery related components will get a good opportunity.