In a high-standard and clean factory in Chenzhou High-tech Zone, palm-sized new energy lithium batteries are sent to the testing and packaging workshops. Those that pass the test will be sent to various parts of the world.

These batteries produced by Hunan Grepow New Energy Co., Ltd. occupy 30% of the global market share for high rate drone batteries. The company’s output value exceeded 1 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 50%. This year’s output value is expected to hit 1.5 billion yuan. Grepow is rising rapidly and becoming a shining star in the field of new energy batteries.

Since its establishment in Chenzhou in 2011, the company has won quite a few honorary titles, like a national “little giant” company, a national advantage enterprise for intellectual property and a national green factory.

“Technological innovation is a key factor and the cornerstone for Grepow to establish a competitive advantage,” said Ji Tierong, general manager of the company.

Talents are the foundation of the company’s technological innovation. It has its own battery research institute, led by Professor Guo Huajun, a doctoral supervisor at Central South University. Over 300 R&D members cover multiple fields such as electrochemistry, materials and structures. These specialists, with their professional knowledge and rich experience, continue to develop in the field of lithium batteries, injecting intellectual support for technological breakthroughs.

Continuous R&D investment is the driving force behind the company’s innovation. Since its settlement in Chenzhou, the company has extensively used 5% to 6% of its annual sales revenue for new technology research, new product development, advanced equipment procurement, and high-end talent introduction, providing a solid material foundation and talent reserve for innovation.

The cooperation between industry, academia and research has boosted the development of the company. It has cooperated with Central South University to establish a joint training base for graduate students of Central South University. Every year, hundreds of them work as interns at the base.  

It has also established seven provincial-level scientific and technological innovation platforms with high standards, equipped with advanced domestic research and testing laboratories for new energy battery products.

Through these platforms, researchers can conduct various research and experiments, rigorously test and verify the products and technologies developed to ensure that their performance and quality meet international advanced levels.

After years of efforts, the company has successfully applied for more than 160 national technology patents and has undertaken 5 provincial-level or above scientific research projects.

Especially in the field of high-rate unmanned aerial vehicle lithium batteries, the company has mastered multiple key core technologies, effectively solving the “bottleneck” technical problem that resulted in China’s long-term dependence on foreign imports for similar products. It is now leading the industry domestically and at the advanced level globally.

The company always insists on exploring diversified markets, while strengthening overseas warehouse construction, steadily improving the level of intelligent, digital, and green production.

The company has focused on developing technologies in low-altitude economy last year as it’s the first year of low-altitude economy.

Its 811 material system fast charging semi-solid high-rate unmanned aerial vehicle lithium-ion battery product is widely used in low-altitude electric aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicle applications such as logistics distribution, emergency rescue, tourism and sightseeing, urban navigation, providing reliable “power support” for the development of China's low altitude economy. It has won the title of a national benchmark enterprise for China’s UAV low-altitude economy.

Currently, the company is implementing the R&D and industrialization of 450Wh/kg high-rate semi-solid state lithium ion battery for electric aircraft. This project aims to solve key technical challenges in the low-altitude electric aircraft lithium-ion battery industry, such as low energy density, short battery life, and slow charging speed.

Chinese source: hunantoday