Asahi Kasei licenses Acetolyte electrolyte technology to HighChem Shanghai for Chinese battery market

Type: Partnership · Technology: Storage · Country: China · Announced: 2026-08-13

Asahi Kasei signed its first license agreement in China for Acetolyte, an acetonitrile-containing electrolyte, granting HighChem Shanghai a non-exclusive license to produce and sell the material to Chinese battery manufacturers. HighChem Shanghai, an affiliate of the HighChem group focused on trading in China, will manufacture and sell the electrolyte for the local market, leveraging its customer base and industry presence to accelerate adoption amid China’s expanding electric vehicle and energy storage sectors. Acetolyte offers superior low-temperature performance and high ionic conductivity, enabling smaller battery packs with greater energy density while reducing manufacturing costs by improving durability at high temperatures. Asahi Kasei has already licensed the electrolyte in Europe, where EAS Batteries commercialized an LFP cell built on it, and aims to conclude at least 10 new license agreements globally between fiscal 2025 and 2027. Under its Technology-value Business Creation plan, Asahi Kasei seeks a cumulative profit contribution of ¥10 billion or more by around 2030 through monetizing patents, know-how, and data via licensing rather than manufacturing.

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