What are the developments of aluminum-plastic film in the application of new energy vehicles?

As the global new energy vehicle industry accelerates its evolution towards high energy density and lightweight, aluminum-plastic film, as the core packaging material for soft pack lithium batteries, is moving from behind the scenes to the forefront, becoming a key variable driving industry technological innovation. Its unique performance advantages resonate with market demand, providing a new solution for improving the range and safety upgrade of new energy vehicles.

1.Technological breakthrough: the 'invisible armor' of soft pack batteries

Aluminum plastic film achieves multiple functions through a three-layer composite structure ,the nylon layer provides mechanical strength, the aluminum foil layer blocks oxygen and moisture, and the polypropylene layer ensures heat sealing adhesion. This design increases the energy density of soft pack batteries by more than 20% in the same volume, while reducing weight by 15%, directly helping new energy vehicles to exceed a range of 600 kilometers.

2.Market demand: the leap from niche to mainstream

In 2024, the penetration rate of domestic soft pack batteries in new energy vehicles has exceeded 24%, corresponding to a demand for 68.27 million square meters of aluminum-plastic film, with a compound annual growth rate of 42.34%. Behind this trend is the preference of European car companies for soft pack solutions - Volkswagen ID series, Mercedes EQS and other models all use soft pack batteries, which have an energy density 15% -20% higher than square batteries and an extended cycle life of 30%. It is expected that by 2025, the global shipment volume of aluminum-plastic film will reach 7.6 billion square meters, and the market size will exceed 10 billion yuan.

3.Domestic substitution: the Chinese solution' to break the monopoly of Japan and South Korea

In the past, the aluminum-plastic film market was monopolized by Japanese companies such as DNP and Showa Electric, with a localization rate of less than 10%. In recent years, domestic manufacturers such as Guanglin Caiyao and Xinlun New Materials have achieved a leap from "following" to "running in parallel" through technological breakthroughs. Guanglin Caiyao's thermal and dry processes maintain a product yield of over 90%, with an annual output of 150 million square meters. In 2024, the market share of domestically produced aluminum-plastic film has increased to 30%, and it is expected to reach 40% by 2025.

4.Application scenario: Extension from power batteries to energy storage systems

The application of aluminum-plastic film is expanding from new energy vehicles to the field of energy storage. In energy storage systems, soft pack batteries have become an ideal choice for large energy storage power plants due to their high energy density and long cycle life. Their system energy density is increased by 25%, and due to their strong material barrier properties, the risk of battery leakage is reduced by 50%. In addition, aluminum-plastic film has also shown potential in emerging fields such as 5G base station backup power supply and drones, further expanding the market space.