Lead Batteries Power China's E-Bike Boom
Electric two- and three-wheelers in China account for roughly 18% of global lead demand, according to CHR Metals.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Electric Vehicles
Huw Roberts of CHR Metals said electric two- and three-wheelers in China account for approximately 18% of global lead demand, with an estimated 300 million electric two-wheelers and 80 million to 90 million electric three-wheelers in operation. Roberts made the remarks at the 10th International Secondary Lead Conference in Colombo on October 26, 2026.
Why it matters
Lead-acid batteries remain dominant in China's e-bike fleet while lithium batteries lead in India and African electric motorcycles, shaping regional demand for the metal. Roberts warned that lead's position in China faces risk from sodium-ion batteries, which are coming.
Approximately 85% to 90% of Chinese electric two- and three-wheelers are powered by lead batteries, which are typically replaced roughly every two years. The IEA's 2026 report excludes e-bikes with a maximum permitted speed of 25km/h, a scope limit that affects comparisons of the sector.
The players
Huw Roberts
Huw Roberts is an analyst with CHR Metals who tracks global lead demand and battery markets.
CHR Metals
CHR Metals is a metals market research firm that publishes analysis of lead and battery-metal supply and demand.
International Energy Agency
The International Energy Agency is an intergovernmental body that publishes global energy market analysis and forecasts.
The details
Roberts said most Chinese e-bike batteries last approximately two years, creating a continuous supply of spent batteries for recycling through an established trade-in system that discounts new purchases. Retailers in India often decline lithium batteries because they hold little residual value, while the bulk of Indian two-wheel e-bikes are lithium-powered under government policy favoring that chemistry.
Timeline
October 26, 2026: Roberts presented at the 10th International Secondary Lead Conference in Colombo.
2026: The International Energy Agency published a report excluding low-speed e-bikes.
Roadmap
Lead's stronghold in China's e-bike market sits against the emerging sodium-ion battery chemistry that Roberts identified as a near-term threat. The split between lead in China and lithium in India mirrors a broader divergence in how regional policy and recycling infrastructure shape electric two-wheeler battery choices.
Buyers of electric bikes and scooters in China face battery replacement roughly every two years, with lead-acid trade-in discounts easing costs. In India, buyers are more likely to find lithium batteries as the standard option, which carry lower residual value at retail.
The takeaway
Battery chemistry choices in electric two-wheelers carry consequences well beyond the vehicle, reaching metals demand and recycling systems. Readers tracking the e-bike market should watch whether sodium-ion batteries gain traction before lead's dominance shifts.
Further reading
Explore more on Electric Vehicles to see how battery chemistry is reshaping two-wheeler markets worldwide.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Batteries International.
