Asahi Kasei has signed its first license agreement in China for its next-generation lithium-ion battery electrolyte technology, partnering with HighChem Shanghai to manufacture and sell Acetolyte in the world’s largest battery market.
The non-exclusive licensing agreement will enable HighChem Shanghai, an affiliate of HighChem focused on trading operations in China, to produce and commercialize Acetolyte—an innovative acetonitrile-containing electrolyte developed using Asahi Kasei’s proprietary technology.
The move comes as demand for high-performance lithium-ion batteries continues to surge across China, driven by rapid growth in electric vehicles (EVs) and energy storage systems (ESS). The partnership is expected to speed up market adoption of Acetolyte while providing battery manufacturers with a more responsive and reliable local supply chain.
By combining Asahi Kasei’s advanced electrolyte technology with HighChem Shanghai’s established customer network and deep experience in China’s battery sector, the companies aim to expand access to high-performance battery solutions in a key global market.
“Having focused on the lithium-ion battery business for nearly 20 years, HighChem has knowledge and extensive business experience in the Chinese market,” said Yueyuan Long, General Manager of HighChem Shanghai.
"Acetolyte offers excellent low-temperature performance, and we believe that our collaboration with Asahi Kasei will enable us to maximize the value of this technology and open up new possibilities for the battery industry.”
Osamu Matsuzaki, Senior Executive Officer of Asahi Kasei and Head of Corporate R&D, said the China agreement marks a major milestone in the company’s global licensing expansion.
“We have steadily expanded the Acetolyte business through licensing partnerships in Europe. This first license agreement in China represents a significant advance in the global extension of our technology. By partnering with HighChem Shanghai, we can deliver innovative solutions to customers in this major market while further strengthening our licensing-based growth strategy.”
Acetolyte is designed to address key challenges facing current lithium-ion batteries, offering high ionic conductivity that enables stronger power output at low temperatures and improved durability under high-temperature conditions.
The technology could help manufacturers develop smaller battery packs with higher energy density, potentially reducing costs while improving battery performance.
The agreement supports Asahi Kasei’s broader Technology-value Business Creation (TBC) strategy, launched under its medium-term management plan announced in April 2025. The initiative focuses on generating value from the company’s intellectual assets—including patents, know-how, data, and algorithms—through licensing and other commercialization models.
