China accounts for more lithium-ion battery and net-zero charging technology patents than any other country in the world, far outstripping its competitors in the electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing space.
Last year, the second-largest economy in the world after the US imported 1.48 million metric tonnes of refined copper from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a 71% year-on-year increase.
Of the country’s surging demand for refined copper, crucial for lithium-ion anode conductivity and component part manufacturing, DRC supplied 36.7% of China’s total refined copper imports in 2024.
Back in 2020, the DRC supplied 10% of China’s refined copper.
Analysis shows that Chinese companies have registered over 62 000 EV charging technology patents, compared with just under 6 000 from Japan and even fewer from Germany, South Korea and the United States.
This increase in EV manufacturing progress is largely attributed to strong government support, early investment in manufacturing infrastructure and a national push for electrification due to environmental concerns.
However, the sheer volume of patents does not automatically equate to genuine technological progress or market leadership. Some critics, such as Boston-based strategic business analyst, Bry Willis, say China’s patent quantity equates to a form of "techno bragging".
He said patent counts did not necessarily equal real progress in EV output, as companies and countries filed large numbers of patents to signal innovation, even if many filings were incremental or of limited commercial value.
And yet, recent analyses suggest that China’s EV patents are not just numerous but increasingly high in quality and technological impact.
A Tokyo-based think tank found that Chinese firms like Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL), the world’s largest battery maker, and EV manufacturer Build Your Dreams (BYD) have patents with significant technological influence backed up by citation counts and patent longevity.
US non-profit industry think tank, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, has also found that Chinese companies have made notable breakthroughs in battery chemistry, fast-charging technology and business models, such as battery swapping.
Companies like CATL and BYD are now seen as leaders in both innovation and manufacturing capability, with their technologies being adopted or partnered with by international firms such as Toyota.
For Willis, though, the EV race is about more than just research and development.
“You want to know who’s winning? Don’t ask how many PDF (patents) got filed – ask who’s shipping, scaling and storing energy,” he said.
