On October 10, 2025, the IEC/TC21 International Conference on the New Sodium-Ion Battery Standards Proposal was successfully held at the Camel Group Innovation R&D Center in Wuhan, Hubei, China. Organized by the Shenyang Institute of Battery Research — the domestic technical counterpart of the IEC Technical Committee on Secondary Cells and Batteries (IEC/TC21) — and hosted by Camel Group Co., Ltd., the event was supported by the National Technical Committee on Lead-Acid Batteries Standardization.
The conference brought together more than 100 leading global experts and industry representatives, aiming to advance the formulation of international standards for sodium-ion batteries and accelerate progress in global energy transformation. Participants included core IEC/TC21 working group experts, Luan Yundong, Director of the Shenyang Institute of Battery Research, Fu Bingbing, Secretary-General of the National Technical Committee on Lead-Acid Batteries, Gao Guoxing, Vice President of Camel Group, as well as specialists from Germany, the United States, Japan, and other countries, along with representatives from major OEMs, battery manufacturers, and key material suppliers — forming a comprehensive dialogue platform spanning standard development, technological innovation, and industrial application.
The conference focuses on the new international standard proposal for 12V Sodium-Ion Battery for Automotive Start-Stop Applications - Part 1: General Requirements and Test Methods, which is led by Camel Group in collaboration with Zhongke Haina, Shenyang Storage Battery Research Institute, Tianneng Group, and Jujiang Group. Recently, the proposal was unanimously approved by all 17 participating P-member countries of IEC/TC21 and has officially entered the standard development stage. This marks the first China-led international standard for 12V sodium-ion batteries used in vehicle start-stop systems — a milestone that demonstrates China’s growing innovation strength and influence in the global battery industry.
At the beginning of the conference, Mr. Luan Yundong, Director of the Shenyang Institute of Battery Research, delivered the opening address. The director introduced the key responsibilities of the domestic counterpart organization of IEC/TC21 and provided an in-depth analysis of the current global development landscape and broad prospects of sodium-ion batteries. Director Luan emphasized that since 2024, China has taken the lead in proposing six IEC international standards, five of which have already been approved, underscoring the country’s growing influence in international standardization. He further highlighted that sodium-ion batteries hold significant potential in 12V start-stop vehicle systems, and the advancement of international standardization is essential for accelerating commercialization, ensuring product safety and quality, and promoting sustainable global energy development.
During the technical exchange session, Camel Group, as the host, presented its groundbreaking achievements in sodium-ion battery technology, including outstanding low-temperature pulse performance, long cycle life, and superior adaptability to high-temperature environments. Representatives from Zhongke Hina, Tianneng, Chaowei, and Pylontech actively participated in discussions and shared their product advancements. Representatives from major OEMs contributed valuable insights from an end-user perspective, offering constructive suggestions on application requirements and technical specifications for sodium-ion battery integration in vehicles.
Throughout the meeting, experts conducted an on-site visit to the sodium-ion battery pilot production line at the Camel Group Innovation R&D Center. The visit provided a comprehensive view of the full process — from material preparation to cell assembly — deepening participants’ understanding of the technology’s feasibility and the challenges of large-scale production.
In the closing remarks, Luca Brisotto, the representative of the IEC expert group from Italy, highly commended the outcomes of the conference. The IEC, according to Mr. Brisotto, will incorporate the insights gathered during the meeting to further define the scope, technical framework, and roadmap of the forthcoming 12V sodium-ion battery standard.
The convening of this conference laid a solid foundation for establishing unified and standardized international guidelines for sodium-ion batteries. It also highlighted the active participation and growing influence of Chinese enterprises in the formulation of global new energy industry standards. As the leading organization, Camel Group will continue to play a pivotal role in driving technological progress and industrial collaboration, joining hands with partners worldwide to promote the creation of a scientific, open, and inclusive international standard system that supports global transportation electrification and energy transition.
