Battery prices in China are falling rapidly with no end in sight. Analysts view the trend as a catalyst in the mass-level decarbonisation of road transport worldwide.
On a regional basis, average battery pack prices were lowest in China, at $94/kWh. Packs in the US and Europe were 31% and 48% higher, reflecting the relative immaturity of these markets, as well as higher production costs and lower volumes.
Why are battery prices falling in China?
Battery prices in China are falling rapidly with no end in sight. Analysts view the trend as a catalyst in the mass-level decarbonisation of road transport worldwide. According to a new Bloomberg report, the cost of LFP battery cells in China has fallen by 51 per cent to an average of $53/kWh since 2023.
In China, LFP battery packs now cost $75/kWh, and at that level, companies can sell EVs at the same price as or even lower than combustion engine models. Nearly two-thirds of EVs in the country are already cheaper than their ICE counterparts. The decline in battery prices in China will eventually benefit consumers in the global markets as well.
How much does a battery electric car cost in China?
Prices for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) came in at $97/kWh, crossing below the $100/kWh threshold for the first time. While EVs have reached price parity in China, they are still more expensive than comparable combustion cars in many markets.
Are China's battery plants still idle in 2022?
China's battery plants were running at 51 per cent capacity in 2022, and then further lower at 43 per cent in 2023, and Bloomberg estimates that these manufacturing facilities will remain even more idle this year. Average prices are closing in on estimated manufacturing costs, suggesting a drop in margins.
Global average battery prices declined from $153 per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in 2022 to $149 in 2023, and they're projected by Goldman Sachs Research to fall to $111 by the close of this year.