Lithium batteries can be roughly divided into two categories: lithium metal batteries and lithium-ion batteries. Lithium ion batteries do not contain metallic lithium and are rechargeable. The fifth generation product of rechargeable batteries, lithium metal batteries, was born in 1996. Its safety, specific capacity, self discharge rate, and cost-effectiveness are all superior to lithium-ion batteries. Due to their own high-tech requirements, only a few companies in certain countries are producing this type of lithium metal battery.

In December 2024, according to the lithium battery industry standard announcement enterprise information and industry association calculations, the total production of lithium batteries in China from January to October was 890 gigawatt hours, a year-on-year increase of 16%.