At present, carbon neutrality and energy transition from a global perspective are still important issues, and this wave is pushing the wheels of new energy vehicles forward and continuously penetrating the global transportation industry. As the core systems of new energy vehicles: batteries, motors, and electronic controls play an important role in vehicle performance, battery life and intelligence level, so they have become an important development strategy for major manufacturers. From the breakthrough of solid-state battery laboratory data to the deep integration of high-efficiency motors and intelligent electronic control systems; From the strong rise of Chinese companies CATL and BYD in the global power battery market, to the fierce game between regional industrial chain coordination and international competition, every technological innovation and industrial layout adjustment of core components of new energy vehicles is profoundly affecting the future trend of the industry. This article will briefly discuss the current situation and trend of "three electrics" technology.
Technological breakthroughs and development trends
Battery:
Technical status: At present, the lithium battery technology has been continuously optimized, and the energy density has been continuously improved, such as the Kirin battery and other products of the CATL era, which has gradually increased the mileage of new energy vehicles. At the same time, there have been significant improvements in battery safety and cycle life, with improved battery management systems and material systems reducing the risk of thermal runaway and extending battery life. In addition, battery fast charging technology continues to develop, and some models have been able to charge for hundreds of kilometers in a few minutes.
Development trend: In addition to continuing to improve energy density, shorten charging time and improve safety, the integration trend of batteries is obvious, such as BYD's blade battery adopts a new battery structure design, which improves space utilization and system energy density. At the same time, battery recycling technology will continue to improve to form a more environmentally friendly and sustainable industrial closed loop.
Progress in solid-state battery research and development: Many enterprises and scientific research institutions have invested a lot of resources in the research and development of solid-state batteries, and have achieved phased results. For example, BTR has made remarkable progress in the development and innovation of solid-state electrolytes and cathode and anode materials for solid-state batteries, and its LATP oxide solid-state electrolyte has begun to be shipped tonnage and achieved commercial production.
Impact on the new energy vehicle industry: solid-state batteries have higher energy density, which can greatly increase the range of new energy vehicles; Its better safety can reduce safety risks such as battery thermal runaway and enhance consumers' confidence in the safety of new energy vehicles. Although the current cost is high, with the maturity of technology and large-scale production, it is expected to reduce costs and promote the further development of the new energy vehicle industry.
Motor:
Technical status: Permanent magnet synchronous motors are widely used in new energy vehicles, with the advantages of high efficiency and high-power density. At the same time, the control technology of the motor is continuously optimized, and advanced algorithms are used to achieve more accurate torque control and efficiency optimization. In addition, the degree of integration of the motor is getting higher and higher, and it is integrated with the reducer and electronic control system to form an integrated electric drive system, which improves the compactness and reliability of the system.
Trend: Towards higher power density, higher efficiency and lower noise. For example, the use of new magnetic materials and the optimization of the motor structure to further improve the power density; By improving the heat dissipation technology and control strategy, the efficiency of the motor under different working conditions can be improved. In addition, with the improvement of the power performance requirements of new energy vehicles, multi-motor drive systems will be more widely used.
R&D progress of high-efficiency motors: Some companies have made breakthroughs in the development of new high-efficiency motors, such as motor controllers with wide bandgap semiconductor materials such as silicon carbide, which can improve the working frequency and efficiency of the motor and reduce energy loss. At the same time, by optimizing the winding design and magnetic circuit structure of the motor, the power factor and torque density of the motor are improved.
Impact on the new energy vehicle industry: high-efficiency motors can improve the power performance of new energy vehicles, make acceleration more rapid and climbing more powerful; It can improve energy efficiency and increase mileage; Promote the development of new energy vehicles in the direction of high performance and high reliability, and enhance product competitiveness.
Figure: Technological Evolution and Future Prospects of Key Components in China's New Energy Vehicles
Electronically controlled:
Technical status: The integration degree of the electronic control system has been continuously improved, and the integration of multiple functional modules has been realized, reducing the cost and volume. At the same time, the intelligent level of the electronic control system is constantly improving, which can automatically optimize energy distribution and power output according to the driving status of the vehicle and the operating habits of the driver. In addition, the safety and reliability of the electronic control system have also been strengthened, and multiple safety protection measures have been adopted to ensure stable operation under various working conditions.
Development trend: intelligence and networking will become an important development direction of electronic control system. In the future, the electronic control system will be deeply integrated with the vehicle's intelligent driving system and intelligent cockpit system to realize the intelligent collaborative control of the vehicle. At the same time, with the development of Internet of Vehicles technology, the electronic control system will be able to communicate with external infrastructure to achieve remote monitoring and intelligent scheduling.
R&D progress of intelligent electronic control systems: Some car companies and suppliers are developing intelligent electronic control systems based on artificial intelligence and machine learning, which can learn and adapt to the driving conditions of vehicles in real time, and optimize energy management and power control strategies. For example, through the analysis of a large amount of driving data, the intelligent electronic control system can predict the driver's driving intention, adjust the power output in advance, and improve driving comfort and energy efficiency.
Impact on the new energy vehicle industry: Intelligent electronic control system can improve the intelligent level of new energy vehicles and lay the foundation for autonomous driving; Optimize energy management and increase cruising range; Through software upgrades and remote monitoring, after-sales service costs can be reduced and user experience can be improved.
Localization process and industrial layout
Localization achievements: China has made remarkable achievements in the localization of key components of new energy vehicles. CATL is the world's leading provider of power battery systems, ranking 6th among the top 10 global auto parts companies in 2024, and its battery products have high energy density, long cycle life and good safety, occupying a significant share of the global market. BYD not only leads the technology in the field of power batteries, but also realizes the independent research and development and production of key components such as batteries, motors, and electronic controls, and its blade batteries and other products promote the development of new energy vehicle technology.
Distribution characteristics of the industrial chain:
Yangtze River Delta region: With Shanghai as the center, there are many parts enterprises in Jiangsu, Zhejiang and other places, forming a complete industrial chain. It is rich in scientific and technological resources and convenient transportation, attracting a large number of new energy vehicle enterprises and R&D institutions, and has strong R&D and production capacity in the fields of batteries, motors, and electronic control.
Pearl River Delta region: Represented by Shenzhen, relying on the local developed electronic information industry foundation, it has advantages in the field of new energy vehicle electronics and intelligent networking, and has a number of battery and motor production enterprises, and the industrial ecology is gradually improving.
Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region: Beijing has abundant scientific research resources and policy advantages, while Tianjin and Hebei have a certain foundation in auto parts manufacturing, forming an industrial development model combining production, education and research, and have a certain industrial layout in the fields of batteries and motors.
Government policies to promote coordinated development: The government guides all localities to give full play to their own advantages and achieve differentiated development through the formulation of industrial plans and policies. For example, support the construction of new energy vehicle industry bases, encourage enterprises to establish production bases and R&D centers in different regions, and promote cooperation between upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain. At the same time, through financial subsidies, tax incentives and other policies, enterprises are encouraged to carry out technological innovation and industrial upgrading, promote the flow of talents and technical exchanges between regions, strengthen industry-university-research cooperation, and jointly overcome key technical problems.
Market dynamics and competitive landscape
Market dynamics: The global new energy vehicle market is showing a rapid growth trend, and China has become the world's largest auto exporter from 2023, and the pace of internationalization of Chinese automakers has accelerated significantly. Consumers' demand for new energy vehicles is increasing, and higher requirements are put forward for vehicle mileage, safety, and intelligence. At the same time, governments around the world have introduced policies to support the development of new energy vehicles, such as subsidies, tax incentives, purchase restrictions, etc., which have further promoted the development of the market.
Impact on key component suppliers: The growth of market demand has brought a broad market space for key component suppliers, prompting suppliers to increase R&D investment and improve product performance and quality to meet the high-performance and high-reliability requirements of automotive companies for parts. At the same time, the intensification of market competition also makes suppliers face cost pressures, and they need to reduce costs by optimizing production processes and improving production efficiency to remain competitive.
Comparison of competitiveness and the status of Chinese enterprises: Foreign companies have deep technology accumulation and brand advantages in the field of traditional auto parts, and occupy an important position in the global market. For example, international component giants such as Bosch and Denso are leading in automotive electronics and power systems. Chinese companies have developed rapidly in the field of key components of new energy vehicles, and in the field of batteries, CATL, BYD and other companies have international competitiveness and have a high market share in the world. In the field of motor and electronic control, the technical level and product quality of Chinese enterprises are also constantly improving, and the gap with the international advanced level is gradually narrowing.
Challenges faced by Chinese enterprises: There is still a gap between Chinese enterprises and foreign enterprises in terms of brand influence, high-end talent pool, and international market channels. At the same time, with the intensification of competition in the global market, Chinese enterprises are facing problems such as intellectual property disputes and trade barriers. In addition, in terms of some key technologies and materials, Chinese enterprises still rely on imports, and need to further strengthen independent research and development to improve the independent and controllable ability of core technologies.
