Chinese developers have created fourth-generation lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells with an energy density exceeding 200 Wh/kg. Academician Ouyang Minggao from Tsinghua University presented these results at the World Battery Conference 2026 in Sichuan province.
The new density level allows for increased energy capacity without relying on expensive nickel-rich cathode materials. This development is part of a broader trend in the Chinese industry to simultaneously improve battery performance and accelerate mass production.
Manufacturing efficiency has also increased. The speed of automated winding for prismatic cells has risen to 7.5 elements per minute, compared to a baseline of 4.4 elements per minute.
LFP batteries dominate the Chinese electric vehicle market. In the first half of 2026, LFP batteries accounted for 272 GWh out of 335.6 GWh of installed capacity, representing approximately 81% of the market share.
