Recently, at the “2024 World Power Battery Conference” held in Yibin, Sichuan Province on September 1st, more than 180 companies, including NEDC, BYD, and Tesla, participated, covering the entire industry chain of power batteries and new energy vehicles.
During the conference, Chairman Zeng Yuqun of CATL publicly stated that the safety factor of the vast majority of batteries currently on the market is far from sufficient, drawing significant attention to the issue.
Zeng Yuqun emphasized that the safety factor of some power batteries on the market is significantly below the claimed standard. He noted that while many battery products claim a safety failure rate of one in a million, the actual rate may be as high as one in a thousand.
Citing a report from China Central Television (CCTV), Zeng referenced that the fire incidence rate of new energy vehicles in 2023 was about 0.96 per ten thousand. With over 25 million new energy vehicles and billions of battery cells in China currently, the multiplication of these values by the safety failure rate poses a significant safety risk that cannot be ignored.
Zeng warned that if the safety issues are not addressed effectively, the consequences could be catastrophic. He urged the industry to set aside competition and prioritize consumer interests, especially ensuring everyone’s safety. Collaborative efforts to raise safety standards and establish absolute safety red lines are essential.
He stressed that “reliability” is the competitive edge of the power battery industry. Only by achieving high reliability can users be assured and the industry thrive. Zeng pointed out the disparities in the industry where many products do not live up to their claimed reliability standards, highlighting the importance of addressing these discrepancies.
This discussion has sparked widespread attention and discussion online. Netizens voiced concerns such as the importance of prioritizing consumer safety and the need for stringent safety regulations and standards for batteries within the industry. Some questioned the maturity of leap-forward battery-powered vehicles and emphasized the critical need for thorough research to address the current safety shortcomings.
The lack of assurance in safety factors raised questions about the oversight and regulation of battery safety and highlighted the discrepancies in promoting vehicles with inadequate safety measures. Criticisms were also directed at the authorities for neglecting the safety concerns of the public and allowing potential risks to persist unchecked, likening the situation to jeopardizing the populace’s well-being.