As the lithium-battery industry enters the terawatt-hour (TWh) era, China is accelerating the development of a full-lifecycle management and information-tracing system—from production to recycling. This long-standing industry vision is gradually becoming a reality. Recently, the State Administration for Market Regulation (National Standardization Administration Committee) officially approved and released "Li-ion Battery Coding Rules" National standard, which is scheduled to November 1, 2025 It officially comes into effect.

The implementation of this national standard marks a significant shift in China’s lithium-battery management, moving from vague practices to a new phase of clear and rigorous control. Each newly produced lithium battery will be assigned a unique "electronic ID," a digital identifier that will span all product levels—from individual cells to complete battery systems—enabling transparent, end-to-end management across the entire supply chain.

As a global leader in the lithium-ion battery industry, China has maintained over 70% of the world’s production capacity for many consecutive years. According to statistics from the China Automotive Power Battery Industry Innovation Alliance, in 2024, China’s production and sales of lithium-ion batteries reached 1,096.8 GWh and 1,039.5 GWh, respectively. Yet, behind these remarkable achievements, frequent safety incidents involving lithium batteries and the chaotic state of the power battery recycling market have emerged as two major challenges looming over the industry’s growth.

To address these issues, the timely introduction of the "Lithium-Ion Battery Coding Rules" could not have come at a better moment. This standard not only assigns a unique identification code to each battery but also covers various types of lithium-ion batteries, including consumer-grade, high-power, low-power, and energy-storage batteries. Specifically, energy-storage battery modules, battery packs, and systems are assigned the distinct codes "H," "J," and "S," respectively.

In the eyes of industry insiders, the implementation of this standard marks an important milestone in standardizing lithium-battery production and usage. Through "One Pool, One Code" The management approach will significantly enhance product traceability and elevate industry oversight, driving China's lithium-battery sector toward greater safety, digitalization, and sustainability.

For consumers, the implementation of this standard will provide them with more convenient ways to access product information and protect their rights. Simply by scanning the QR code on the battery, users can obtain comprehensive lifecycle information, creating a robust electronic evidence chain that strengthens assurance of product quality. At the same time, this will also encourage manufacturers to enhance quality control and eliminate substandard batteries that rely on cutting corners to survive.

In the power battery recycling market, the implementation of this standard is equally significant. According to CITIC Securities' forecast, by 2030, the global volume of retired batteries expected to be recycled could surpass 830 GWh, creating a market opportunity worth over 100 billion yuan. However, the difficulty in managing the flow of batteries has long been a major bottleneck hindering the industry's growth. Today, compliant recycling companies that boast technological advantages—such as Greenmei and Bangpu—can leverage coding information to build intelligent sorting systems and establish closed-loop frameworks for cascade utilization. This approach not only squeezes out the survival space of individual recyclers engaged in disorganized dismantling but also drives the reshuffling and upgrading of the entire recycling market.

The implementation of this standard will also help Chinese power battery companies expand overseas. With the full enforcement of the EU's New Battery Regulation, all power batteries entering the EU market must be equipped with a unique digital identity, encompassing data throughout their entire lifecycle. As a result, the "traceable and recyclable" green label will become a crucial passport for Chinese enterprises seeking to establish themselves in global high-end markets. Currently, battery manufacturers such as CATL, CALB, and Gotion High-Tech have already begun deploying Industry 4.0 solutions; their production systems are naturally aligned with the coding standards, which will further reduce costs and strengthen quality barriers.

With the official implementation of the national standard "Coding Rules for Lithium-Ion Batteries," China's lithium battery industry is set to undergo a comprehensive transformation. Full-chain management—from production to recycling—will become more transparent and standardized, providing strong support for the industry's sustained and healthy development.