After InterBattery in March, the strategic focus of South Korea's battery industry has been expanding from high-nickel EV batteries to ESS, LFP, AI data centers, and safety. Battery-related conferences in April also indicated that AI-driven R&D, LFP process innovation, next-generation batteries for diverse application scenarios, and improvements in safety and reliability are becoming major directions. This means the standard for "high-end" is expanding from energy density to system reliability, operational stability, supply chain transparency, and AI-driven management capabilities.

SMM April 28: Dealers in Jiangsu reported that replacement demand in the e-bike lead-acid battery market was sluggish, battery inventory was digesting slowly, and raw material costs such as lead ingots stayed high. The customary sales promotions in the battery market had yet to materialize, with the current wholesale price of the mainstream model 48V12Ah maintained at 280-300 yuan/set. Manufacturers in Zhejiang reported that demand in the e-bike lead-acid battery market was weak, dealers were cautious in procurement, and with the Labour Day holiday approaching, factories plan to shut down for 5 days. In addition, they plan to hold off on additional stockpiling of raw material lead before the holiday. Manufacturers in Shandong reported that the e-bike lead-acid battery market was in the off-season, with poor finished product orders. To avoid inventory buildup, factories maintained operating rates at 50-60%, and raw material lead was purchased only through just-in-time procurement.

Hyundai Motor Group will begin testing a subscription model that separates electric vehicle batteries from vehicle ownership. The group said on April 28 that Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Capital will launch a pilot battery subscription service for corporate taxis in the first half of this year. The pilot will target five IONIQ 5 corporate taxis in the Seoul metropolitan area whose battery warranty periods have expired. Under the program, participating vehicles will use batteries through a monthly subscription fee instead of purchasing them outright. When battery replacement is needed, the existing battery will be returned and another battery will be supplied.

Seosan City, Korea, announced that it has signed an investment agreement with SK On to establish an ESS battery production facility. Under the agreement, SK On will invest KRW 58.7 billion to convert part of its existing EV battery plant in the Seosan Auto Valley industrial complex into an ESS battery production facility. A 3 GWh-scale LFP battery production line for ESS will be installed within the site.

According to news from the Haidong Industrial Park, on April 20, the key project introduced by the Haidong Industrial Park in Qinghai Province — the sodium-ion battery and energy storage equipment manufacturing project of Qinghai Zhaorui New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. — officially broke ground.

[Study Finds EVs Outperform Comparable Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles in Crash Safety] Despite ongoing consumer concerns about EV battery safety, particularly the risk of fire after collisions, real-world test data from independent organizations such as Euro NCAP, ASEAN NCAP, and NHTSA showed that EVs are progressively establishing new safety standards, with their crash test performance generally surpassing that of comparable internal combustion engine vehicles. This advantage of EVs is not coincidental but stems from design philosophies and technical architectures that are fundamentally different from those of traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

Samsung SDI has entered into a multi-year agreement with Mercedes-Benz to supply high-nickel NCM batteries for the automaker’s next-generation electric vehicles. This marks the first time Samsung SDI has provided automotive power batteries to Mercedes-Benz. The two companies held a signing ceremony in Seoul. Under the agreement, the supplied batteries will feature high energy density, long range, long lifespan and high power, and will be equipped with Samsung SDI’s proprietary safety technologies. Mercedes-Benz plans to use these batteries in its future compact and mid-size all-electric SUVs and coupe models. In addition, the two companies will expand their strategic cooperation by jointly developing next-generation power battery technologies.

SMM, April 16: Dealers in Hunan reported that end-use consumption in the e-bike lead-acid battery market remained sluggish, with retailers purchasing cautiously. Current battery inventory stood at approximately one month. There were no signs of sales promotions in the battery wholesale market, with the mainstream model 48V20Ah priced at 380-400 yuan/set. Manufacturers in Jiangxi reported that the e-bike lead-acid battery market was in the off-season, with finished product orders continuing to weaken and battery inventory accumulating. Factory operating rates had dropped to 60-70%. Additionally, lead prices surged significantly today, and raw material lead procurement remained on the sidelines. Manufacturers in Jiangsu reported that e-bike replacement demand was weakening, while OEM orders for complete vehicles were moderate. Factory operating rates were maintained at around 90%, with raw material lead procurement primarily through long-term contracts.

SMM April 13: Dealers in Jiangsu reported that replacement demand in the electric storage battery market remained weak, with retailers extending their restocking cycles. Current battery inventory stood at approximately one month. Additionally, battery wholesale selling prices remained unchanged, with the main model 48V12Ah priced at 280-300 yuan/set. Manufacturers in Zhejiang reported sluggish consumption in the electric storage battery market. Coupled with mediocre OEM orders overall, factory production line operating rates were at 70-80%. Considering raw material cost factors, battery selling prices had not been adjusted for the time being, with future adjustments to be determined based on market conditions. Manufacturers in Jiangxi reported that the electric storage battery market had entered the consumption off-season, with finished product orders weakening. To avoid inventory accumulation, factory operating rates were currently at approximately 80%. Additionally, lead prices weakened today, and factories purchased raw material lead as needed.

SMM, April 9: Dealers in Anhui reported that e-bike lead-acid battery replacement demand was sluggish, with slow digestion of battery inventories. Meanwhile, lead prices rose compared to March, pushing up battery production costs. The battery wholesale market has not yet launched sales promotions as it typically does during the off-season, with the mainstream model 48V20Ah currently priced at 390-400 yuan/set. Manufacturers in Jiangxi reported that the e-bike lead-acid battery market entered the consumption off-season, with declining dealer purchasing enthusiasm. To ease finished product inventory pressure, production in April plans to be reduced by approximately 10% compared to March, and raw material lead is primarily procured through long-term contracts. Manufacturers in Zhejiang reported that e-bike lead-acid battery market demand turned sluggish, with finished product orders in April already significantly lower than in March. To avoid inventory accumulation, factories took a three-day holiday for the Qingming Festival, and production is currently on a produce-based-on-sales basis.