Electronic shipbuilder upgrades battery pack production capacity by 80%

A Yichang-based electronic shipbuilder has just upgraded its lithium battery pack production line by fully adopting robotic arms, boosting its output capacity by 80 percent. 

The Three Gorges Branch of CSSC WIMEP (Wuhan) New Energy Marine Co., Ltd. is located in Zigui County, Yichang City. The upgraded facility uses robotic arms for automated cell inspection and assembly, enhancing efficiency and ensuring production precision and quality. Annual production capacity has increased from 100,000 kWh to 180,000 kWh. 
 

Safety has been a top priority in the design. The company developed a proprietary oil-immersion thermal management system to reduce fire risks. An in-house battery management system monitors cell voltage, current, and temperature in real time, helping reduce the risk of fire or explosion during overcharging, short circuits, or external combustion.

WIMEP's battery packs have been deployed aboard several pioneering vessels, including the Three Gorges Dam Protection No. 1, China's first all-electric floating garbage cleanup and transfer ship for inland rivers, as well as the tourism ship Harmony, which operates on Xiling Gorge routes.

The shipbuilder is stepping up investment in smart-shipping R&D to drive upgrades across the full industry chain, from manufacturing and battery production to design and supporting facilities.

Among the 14 vessels currently under construction, the most notable is the Gezhouba, a 10,000-ton battery-powered bulk cargo ship. Measuring 130 meters long, it is powered by 24 MWh of lithium-ion batteries housed in 12 container-sized modules, offering a range of about 500 kilometers on a single full charge.

Video and photos by Peng Qiang.