Chen Liquan, a newly honored recipient of the State Preeminent Science and Technology Award played down personal glory and kept coming back to one vision: Electric China.
"For me, the honor isn't really the point. What matters is that the country takes Electric China seriously and gives it the recognition it deserves," he said. "What we've done so far is still far from enough."
In his view, Electric China is not just about electric vehicles - it's a three‑pillar system: electrifying transportation (cars, aircraft, ships), intelligent infrastructure (smart cities, villages, mines) and low‑carbon energy (wind, solar, nuclear).
And the beating heart of all this? Energy storage. "Without batteries, you only get power when the wind blows or the sun shines," he explained. "But with lithium or sodium batteries, you can store that energy and release it whenever you need it."
He wrapped up with a humble smile: "This award is a call for all of us to work together and make Electric China happen."