Lithium Battery Giants Set Eyes on Two-Wheeler Market, New National Standards Catalyze Industry Reshuffling

The transition to lithium batteries is becoming an inevitable path for the two-wheeler industry's upgrade.

On September 1, with the official implementation of the mandatory national standard "Technical Specification for Safety of Electric Bicycles" (GB17761-2024), this process will be further accelerated.

The new standard imposes stricter requirements on key indicators such as vehicle weight and battery safety: non-lead-acid vehicles must strictly control total weight to ≤55 kg; lithium batteries must pass nail penetration tests, ensuring no fire or explosion under extreme internal short-circuit conditions; flame retardancy is enhanced, limiting plastic components to no more than 5.5% of total vehicle mass; and battery packs, controllers, and speed limiters adopt an "integrated three-in-one" anti-tampering requirement. This serves as a watershed moment, accelerating the replacement of traditional lead-acid batteries with high-grade lithium batteries and driving the entire industry toward safer, more efficient, and smarter transformation.

Responding to the clear policy signals and vast market opportunities unleashed by the new standard, lithium battery producers are swiftly mobilizing to expand their presence.

In mid-August, Gotion High-tech, through its subsidiary Hefei Gotion Jitamei, partnered with Lujiang High-Tech Zone to officially enter the small power battery market, including electric two-wheelers, aiming to establish it as the company's "third growth pillar" after power batteries and ESS businesses.

Gotion High-tech is not the first battery producer to venture into the electric two-wheeler market. Prior to this, top-tier battery enterprises such as CATL, EVE, BYD, and Farasis Energy have already entered the electric two-wheeler industry.

Despite the long-standing dominance of lead-acid batteries in the electric two-wheeler market and relatively low unit prices, multiple lithium battery giants have been drawn to this sector. Clearly, this is not merely a simple business extension but a strategic move targeting the massive incremental market of "lead-to-lithium" shift in two-wheelers. Lithium battery giants are shifting their "battlefield" from four-wheelers to two-wheelers, marking the beginning of a profound industry reshuffle.

In fact, the rush of lithium battery giants into the electric two-wheeler sector is not blind follow-the-leader behavior but a necessary choice driven by the confluence of policy, market demand, and technological advancement.

First, the newly implemented national standard for electric bicycles has opened a definitive policy window for "lead-to-lithium" shift. The standard's stricter requirements on vehicle weight, battery safety, and flame retardancy constrain traditional lead-acid batteries, while lithium batteries—with higher energy density, better safety, and longer lifespan—emerge as the more compliant technical solution.

Market data fully demonstrates the immense potential of this replacement trend. By the end of 2024, China's electric two-wheeler ownership reached approximately 425 million units, with lithium battery models accounting for less than 10%. In 2024, national electric two-wheeler sales totaled around 49.5 million units, of which lithium battery models represented roughly 30%. Additionally, in H1 this year, domestic sales of two-wheelers equipped with lithium battery rose over 40% YoY, making it one of the fastest-growing segments in the lithium battery industry. This indicates both vast room for replacement and accelerating lithium penetration in the two-wheeler market.

Please note that this news is sourced from http://www.cbea.com/djgc/202509/346355.html and translated by SMM.