Reporter visited | lithium battery price "rose a lonely"? Electric bicycle sales "not afraid of pressure"

It has the attribute of rigid demand, and the quality and service continue to improve

Reporter field visit: electric bicycle sales have not been affected by price increases

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"After April 9th, the price of electric bicycles will rise, but we are still waiting for the announcement of how much it will rise." On the afternoon of April 7, at a Yadi electric bicycle store on Anlelin Road in Fengtai District, Beijing, the reporter heard that the person in charge of the store was introducing products to consumers. "The main reason for the price increase is because the cost of the battery has risen." The head of the store explained.

Since 2022, with the price of lithium, cobalt, nickel and other metals required for battery cathode materials rising, the cost of power batteries has soared. At the same time, due to the continuous impact of the epidemic at home and abroad, logistics and labor costs have risen, and the electric bicycle industry powered by lithium batteries and lead-acid batteries has also set off a wave of price increases.

1

business:

Multi-factors have led to price increases across the board

As the main material of power batteries, the price of lithium carbonate has risen all the way in recent years, without the slightest slowdown in momentum. According to business monitoring data, on April 7, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate in East China was 505,600 yuan / ton, compared with the beginning of 2021, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate was only 50,000 yuan, an increase of 900% in just one year.

The rise in upstream raw materials has a very obvious impact on the electric bicycle industry with lithium batteries as the main power. The data shows that the price of a 48V24AH lithium battery required by a new national standard has risen from 720 yuan in October last year to about 1100 yuan today.

"All the products in our store use lithium batteries, so this wave of price increases is also affecting all products." The person in charge of the Yadi store introduced to reporters, "For example, this DQ6, which was bought at about 3800 yuan a few years ago, has now risen to 4200 yuan." Some models are also out of stock and require consumers to book in advance. ”

On March 21, Xiaoniu Electric issued an announcement that it would raise the retail guidance price of all lithium battery products on April 1, 2022, with an increase of 200 yuan to 1,000 yuan, and then the electric bicycle brand Emma also announced that it would increase the price.

In fact, due to the impact of the epidemic at home and abroad, logistics and labor costs have increased, and the prices of core components such as motors, tires, shock absorption, frames, and plastic parts on the production chain of electric bicycles have also risen sharply. "Since the beginning of this year, the main production bases of electric bicycles such as Wuxi and Changzhou have been affected by the epidemic prevention and control policy, the operating rate is obviously insufficient, and the production capacity and inventory have also been in short supply."

Not only are the prices of products powered by "lithium energy" rising, but the ex-factory price of all lead-acid batteries is also rising.

In addition to electric bicycles, in the new energy vehicle market on the L5th floor of Hopson Hui Mall in Chaoyang District, Beijing, the reporter also saw that bydir, Xiaopeng, Jihu, Nezha and other well-known domestic new energy vehicles gathered in the mall also ushered in a wave of price increases. "The price of the whole vehicle has increased by about 10,000 yuan." Xiaopeng Automobile sales staff told reporters.

2

consumer:

A small increase will not affect the purchase

On April 7, at the Yadi store on Anlelin Road, the reporter saw a pair of young consumers who completed the whole process of selection, test riding and ordering in less than 30 minutes after entering the store. "I usually commute on an electric bike and find it very convenient. This time it was to pick one for my girlfriend. Consumer Mr. Liu said, "Sooner or later to buy, so in the price will not be too entangled, I know what battery is used, she is responsible for picking the style." ”

Manufacturers have raised prices, what kind of impact will it have on product sales? The person in charge of the Yadi store said bluntly, "The price increase has a small impact on product sales. ”

"The main reason is that the quality and service of domestic electric bicycles have been raised." The person in charge of the Yadi store told reporters, "For example, the frame uses a strong and durable carbon steel material; shock absorption, instrument panel and other parts use automotive-grade standards, riding is more comfortable, the power display is more accurate; lightweight liftable lithium battery, long battery life, service life is also increased." Coupled with the more stylish and compact design, high utilization of body space, and various warranty services, an electric bicycle of three or four thousand yuan can be used for seven or eight years. ”

In addition, oil prices have reached record highs since March, expanding the market for e-bike and new energy vehicle sales. Coupled with the fermentation of the epidemic, consumers with short- and medium-distance travel needs will shift to electric bicycles for the sake of the frequency and safety of the public transportation system. According to statistics, the annual sales of electric bicycles in the mainland are more than 30 million, and the social ownership this year is expected to exceed 400 million. Nearly 2.8 billion trips are made in China each year, of which about 1 billion are electric bicycles.

"The price increase of electric bicycles is inevitable, and most consumers are still acceptable for a small price increase of two or three hundred yuan, but if the price increase becomes larger in the future, it is uncertain whether sales will have an impact." The head of the Yadi store said. Her views have also been recognized by the new energy vehicle sales staff, "taking the continuous rise in oil prices and the policy subsidies for the purchase of new energy vehicles combined, the current wave of 'price increases' for consumers with just needs, the impact is not large." ”

3

trend:

The resumption of supply of raw materials will ease the price increase

With the release of the new national standard "Electric Bicycle Safety Technical Specification" (GB17761-2018) in 2019, improving product strength has become the top priority of the new round of market competition, and the development trend of high-end electric bicycles is obvious. Liu Suwen, chairman of the China Bicycle Association, also previously said that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, electric bicycles will become lightweight and lithium-ionized.

The reporter learned that in response to the problem of rising prices of battery raw materials, the competent departments and related enterprises are also actively proposing suggestions to promote the normal development of the industry.

At the recent symposium on the operation of the lithium industry and the price increase of upstream materials for power batteries, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology asked upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain to strengthen the docking of supply and demand, cooperate to form a long-term and stable strategic cooperation relationship, jointly guide the rational return of lithium salt prices, and increase efforts to ensure market supply. Xin Guobin, vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, said that it will focus on meeting the production needs of power batteries, moderately accelerate the development progress of domestic lithium, nickel and other resources, and crack down on unfair competition such as hoarding and price gouging.

Chen Shihua, deputy secretary-general of the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers, also said that from the perspective of demand, the price increase of lithium batteries may continue for a period of time. However, under the regulation of the competent authorities and the efforts of all parties, the price of power batteries will gradually return to rationality.

Wen | photographed by Wang Xuezi, a reporter of this newspaper