Russian Media: The Battery War – How the U.S. Is Trying to Outperform China in the Race!

To surpass China, the United States must take an alternative path and achieve a "leapfrog" advantage.

On May 26, Russian media published an article by expert Joseph Webster.

Batteries have long transcended the realm of consumer electronics and have become strategic weapons.

They power military drones, electronic warfare systems, robotic complexes, and underwater drones.

This is precisely the serious challenge facing Washington: in this competition, China undoubtedly holds a leading position.

The Atlantic Council points out: to gain an edge, the U.S. needs a new strategy.

Currently, China produces over 80% of the world’s batteries.

In the field of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries—rapidly becoming the standard in electric vehicles and energy storage—China accounts for as much as 98% of the market share in positive electrode material production.

It is projected that by 2030, China’s production capacity will exceed 4,800 gigawatt-hours, more than double the current level.

Why does this pose a threat to the U.S. military?

At first glance, this may seem like a discussion about the electric vehicle market—but this is only the surface.

China’s civilian advantages in battery technology directly enhance its military potential: energy density and charging speed are crucial on the battlefield.

The report author writes that U.S. soldiers typically carry around 9.5 kilograms of batteries for a 72-hour mission.

Faster charging speeds increase sortie rates—especially critical for heavy quadcopter attack drones actively used in Ukraine.

High discharge rates are essential for directed-energy weapons—such as laser systems used to counter drones, missiles, and high-speed patrol boats.

American analysts admit that in the competition over scale of production, particularly for existing lithium-ion batteries (especially LFP), the U.S. has little chance of winning. But there may be another way forward.

The core idea—the author calls it a “frog leap”—is that the U.S. should not chase after technologies where China already dominates, but instead bet on next-generation battery technologies: solid-state batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries.

These technologies not only promise fundamentally higher energy density, but also do not rely on graphite—a raw material whose production is controlled by China.

Washington should develop a national battery strategy, as previous efforts have been fragmented: military and civilian applications have been considered separately rather than integrated holistically.

Allied cooperation is also key. Alone, the U.S. cannot match China in sheer scale.

However, joint research and production with allies such as South Korea, Japan, and NATO countries could offset this disadvantage.

Analysts conclude: the U.S. lags behind China in many aspects of the battery race.

Continuing to invest solely in lithium-ion projects is a mistake; they believe now is the optimal time to establish a national battery strategy.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1866198032199754/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.