EVTank reports that since 2026, global intelligent computing power has entered a phase of exponential expansion, with major cloud providers such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Meta, and Oracle significantly increasing their investments in AI infrastructure. The massive demand for computing power is driving rack power consumption from the "10KW" level to the "600KW or even MW level." For example, NVIDIA's latest flagship, the Rubin Ultra NVL576 rack, has a design power consumption that has surged to 660 kilowatts, representing a more than fivefold increase compared to the Blackwell era and over twenty times that of the Hopper era. Subsequent Feynman models are expected to enter the megawatt era. Concurrently, rack-level BBU (Battery Backup Unit) has shifted from an optional add-on to a standard feature due to the power consumption surge, driving a surge in demand for upstream battery cells. In the first half of 2026, global BBU cell shipments reached approximately 276 million units.

In 2026, Panasonic and Samsung SDI experienced strong sales growth in BBU cells, leading to a situation where BBU battery cell capacity is tight and supply cannot meet demand. Panasonic plans to increase its battery production for BBU applications to three times current levels by 2028 through capacity expansion and adjustments to its automotive production lines. In July, Samsung SDI confirmed a supply contract with Simplo Technology worth approximately 2 trillion Korean won. Additionally, several domestic Chinese companies, including Sunwoda, China BAK Battery, Haisida, and Hengdian Group DMEGC Magnetics, have announced active plans to develop BBU-related battery cell products. Companies such as EVE Energy, Ampace, and Kele Data have already delivered samples, while Azure Lithium achieved batch shipments of cells in 2026.

From a competitive landscape perspective, the global BBU cell market is currently dominated by Panasonic and Samsung SDI, which together account for approximately 77% of the market share. Panasonic holds about 40% of the global market share. In the first half of 2026, Samsung SDI shipped over 100 million BBU cells, raising its market share to 37%. Chinese companies are currently slower in their BBU cell shipments, with Azure Lithium leading the pack, holding a global market share of about 7.3% in the first half of 2026. In the second half of the year, with the batch delivery of Moli Cell products and increased direct supply, its full-year market share is expected to rise to 10%.

In terms of supply methods, Japanese manufacturers (Panasonic, Murata) mostly do not sell cells individually but prefer an integrated approach of self-supplying cells combined with their own module development. Samsung SDI and Chinese manufacturers directly supply cells. In the current traditional 18/21 cell supply, they hold a significant market share lead over domestic companies. However, in the future all-tab battery era, China's all-tab production lines are being launched simultaneously with those of overseas manufacturers. Moreover, domestic companies boast higher iteration efficiency and faster capacity expansion capabilities, suggesting they are poised to capture more market share in the BBU application all-tab battery era. Nonetheless, the U.S. restrictions on the use of "Made in China" batteries across various industries since 2026, along with policy uncertainties, will negatively impact Chinese companies. In this context, companies with overseas production capacity will be better positioned to enter the supply chains of American customers in the future.