November 19, 2024—An aerial photo shows a train loaded with lithium batteries for the transportation sector preparing to depart from a railway station in Chongqing, southwestern China. (Xinhua/Tang Yi)
BEIJING, November 20, 2024 (Xinhua)—China Railway has conducted its first large-scale test transport of lithium batteries for electric vehicles by rail.
On Tuesday, three trains loaded with lithium batteries departed from Chongqing, as well as the provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou, all located in southwestern China.
As the world’s largest producer of lithium batteries, this marks a significant breakthrough for China in transporting such products, which are classified as dangerous goods and were previously shipped only by sea or road.
The danger of transporting lithium batteries lies in their potential to catch fire or explode if shaken.
“For this trial operation, we used a new type of container specifically designed for transporting lithium batteries. The containers are made of non-combustible materials and are equipped with smoke and temperature detectors as well as ventilation devices,” said Jia Ping, deputy general manager of China Railway Chengdu Group Co., Ltd.
Rail transport will enable China to export lithium batteries more efficiently, offering greater capacity than road transport and being faster than sea transport, Jia added.
The trial has been praised by China’s battery giant CATL. “This experimental railway transport is further recognition of the safety of domestic lithium batteries,” said Liu Jie, head of supply chain and logistics at CATL.
“Rail transport opens a new channel for the efficient transportation of lithium batteries, reducing logistics costs and improving logistics efficiency, which will boost our exports,” Liu added.
