By South China Morning Post | Created at 2024-11-20 12:11:39 | Updated at 2024-11-20 14:26:18
2 hours ago
Tailored containers carrying power lithium-ion batteries from Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) and BYD – two of the world’s largest power battery makers – started their first rail journey on Tuesday under a pilot programme, Xinhua reported.
Once proved successful, the new containers will be adopted by the China-Europe Railway Express, a key logistical cog in President Xi Jinping’s Belt and Road Initiative which hastens the delivery time from West China to most European countries to around 20 days.
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China mainly relied on ocean shipping for the annual US$65 billion in lithium battery exports last year. The sea journey takes at least 45 days to reach Europe.
A Xinhua commentary hailed the development as “a major step forward in the transportation of these vehicle batteries” for China, the world’s largest producer of lithium batteries.
Power lithium batteries are listed as dangerous goods by the United Nations. Transporting them is considered risky because they could burn or explode if jolted.
“For the trial run, we are using a new type of container designed solely for the transport of lithium batteries. The containers are made of non-combustible materials and equipped with smoke and temperature detectors and venting devices,” Jia Ping, deputy general manager of China Railway Chengdu Group, said according to Xinhua.
CATL’s two routes during the pilot programme are from the southern province of Guizhou and Sichuan in the southwest of China to the eastern port city of Shanghai, while the BYD cargo set off from the southwestern municipality of Chongqing to the Beibu Gulf in Guangxi in the south, according to company bourse releases.
