
The Chinese billionaire keeping batteries from exploding in your smartphones and electric cars
An engineer by training, Cao Ji is the founder of Zhejiang Hangke Technology -- a company specializing in making production equipment for lithium-ion batteries. It counts Samsung, LG and Warren Buffet-backed Chinese automaker BYD as customers.
What do smartphones, electric cars and NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover have in common? They all run on lithium-ion batteries. Since Sony managed to use one in a camcorder in 1991, the rechargeable cells have grown in popularity and are now used to power virtually all portable consumer gadgets, from game consoles and e-cigarettes to scooters and hoverboards. They’re also increasingly used on hybrid and electric vehicles.

The last step of building a lithium-ion battery involves making sure that it’s safe enough for use. But another important part is differentiating batteries of various capacities.
“Batteries coming from the same ‘mother’ are actually different,” said Cao. “The difference stems from the raw materials used, the charging and discharging process, internal resistance and other factors.”
The junior Cao believes there’s one thing that sets his father’s company apart.
“The key to lithium batteries is safety,” he said at an industry conference earlier this year. “Hangke has more than 20 years of experience in the lithium battery production process. We have our own unique insights into safety.”
For more insights into China tech, sign up for our tech newsletters, subscribe to our Inside China Tech podcast, and download the comprehensive 2019 China Internet Report. Also roam China Tech City, an award-winning interactive digital map at our sister site Abacus.
