Asahi Kasei has signed a non-exclusive licence agreement with HighChem Shanghai, an affiliate of trading firm HighChem, to produce and sell its Acetolyte electrolyte to battery manufacturers in China. The deal marks Asahi Kasei’s first China licence for the electrolyte, coming as the country’s high-performance lithium-ion battery market expands on growth in electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Acetolyte offers high ionic conductivity, improving battery power output at low temperatures and durability at high temperatures, an ongoing challenge for lithium-ion batteries. Asahi Kasei said the technology also enables smaller battery packs with greater energy density, cutting costs for manufacturers.

In a statement, Yueyuan Long, General Manager of HighChem Shanghai, said: “Having focused on the lithium-ion battery business for nearly 20 years, HighChem has knowledge and extensive business experience in the Chinese market.” Osamu Matsuzaki, Senior Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and Head of Corporate R&D, added that the China agreement marked a significant advance in the global extension of its licensing-based growth strategy.

The deal supports Asahi Kasei’s medium-term plan to pursue Technology-value Business Creation, an initiative to monetise its patents, know-how and data through licensing. The company aims to conclude at least 10 new licence agreements between fiscal 2025 and 2027, targeting a cumulative profit contribution of ¥10bn (US$62m) by around 2030.

Source: Asahi Kasei