Zhu Hai Coslight Battery brings large scale lithium ion manufacturing to the telecoms sector

As one of the top five polymer lithium ion battery manufacturers globally, ZhuaHai Coslight Battery boasts an impressive production capacity as it continues to drive up the energy density of its products. TowerXchange speak to Coslight’s General Manager Yanming Xu, to understand the scale of their operations and how they see lithium ion establishing its place in the market.

TowerXchange: Please introduce Zhu Hai Coslight Battery Co. Ltd to TowerXchange readers.

As a subsidiary of Coslight Group, Zhuhai Coslight Battery Co., Ltd. is a Sino-foreign joint venture specialising in the research, production and sales of lithium batteries with polymer lithium-ion battery as its main product. Our factory covers an area of over 160,000² with over 5000 staff. Worldwide we are one of the top five polymer cell manufacturers with a total capacity of over 4 billion Wh/year. The total capacity of cells we can produce is over 22M pcs/month and our total revenue (polymer) was US$384 million. Our operational manufacturing plant as well as our manufacturing facility currently in planning are both fully automated

Zhuhai Coslight’s mainstream MP NCM EV cell can achieve  over 3000 cycles with ~200Wh/kg gravimetric energy density, further increased to 255 Wh/kg by the end of 2017 through new chemistry that was introduced. Our long term R&D strategy is steadily pushing forward and targets 300Wh/kg energy density by 2020.

TowerXchange: Which companies does Coslight work with in the African and Middle Eastern region and how extensively have your solutions been deployed?

We are just starting to enter the African and Middle Eastern market and believe that we will become a key partner, bringing extensive expertise in the battery field.

TowerXchange: How have you seen the appetite for lithium ion batteries changing and how is their business case becoming more compelling?

An increasing concern about the the environment along with the need for a reliable power supply in developing countries, or countries which have been through conflict is driving lithium ion uptake.  The clean and safe energy solution will triumph eventually, and we will enter the era of widespread pouch type Li-ion battery deployment.

TowerXchange: Do you see scenarios for mixed battery banks incorporating lithium ion and VRLA batteries?

Not really; combining the two may help reduce the relatively high cost difference but lead acid still has a high requirement on BMS and maintenance. Lead acid, unlike lithium ion, is not a robust and reliable solution.

TowerXchange: Can you explain some of the R&D that is being undertaken at Coslight at present and how this will improve your offering to the telecom sector?

Coslight is the top brand in the Pouch type Li-ion cell industry, and work with so many big names in the consumer sector. We shall use this experience in a UPS application as well.

TowerXchange: Finally, what differentiates Zhu Hai Coslight Battery Co. Ltd from its peers?

We tailor the market not tail the market.