From a "Rebel" Peking University Student to a National Manufacturing Champion

An entrepreneur born in the 1980s, educated at Peking University yet never a conventional top student. A battery expert who defines his products as “life-protecting technology with warmth.” Under his leadership, CARKU has become the global leader in automotive jump starters and a National Manufacturing Single Champion enterprise. With a fearless “Honey Badger spirit” embedded into corporate culture, Lei Yun—Founder and Chairman of Shenzhen Carku Technology Co., Ltd—has turned resilience and boldness into entrepreneurial DNA.

From Playful Teenager to Peking University Breakthrough: Courage Comes First

Lei Yun was never what people would describe as a traditional academic prodigy.
During middle school, he preferred football and basketball over intensive exam preparation. By his own admission, he was not a “model student.” Instead of endless practice drills, he developed a unique learning philosophy: focusing on solving one problem in multiple ways and understanding concepts thoroughly rather than mechanically repeating exercises.
This habit of deep thinking paid off. In China’s highly competitive college entrance examination, Lei achieved an exceptional result—ranking among the top 100 students in Hunan Province—and was ultimately encouraged by his family to apply to Peking University.
Even at Peking University, however, he refused to follow conventional paths. At one point, excessive time spent exploring computers caused him to fail a course. Rather than becoming a setback, the experience shaped his willingness to challenge norms and embrace trial and error.
“Failing a class isn’t frightening,” Lei recalls. “What’s truly dangerous is losing the courage to learn and to break through limitations.”
That courage later became the defining foundation of his entrepreneurial journey.

Entrepreneurship: Not Following Trends, but Creating New Markets

After graduation, Lei began his career as a technical engineer. Within just one year, he successfully localized materials previously imported from Japan—an achievement that quickly revealed his technical potential.
Encouraged by colleagues, he entered entrepreneurship. His first attempt was in trading, but he soon realized it did not align with his long-term ambitions.
In 2011, Lei identified an overlooked market opportunity and invented the world’s first portable automotive emergency jump starter. At the time, consumer power banks were already a crowded market dominated by major brands. Instead of competing in that saturated space, he chose a different path.
“I didn’t want to fight over someone else’s cake,” he says. “I wanted to bake a new one.” The strategy proved transformative.
With its differentiated product positioning, CARKU rose rapidly:
2012: Domestic sales exceeded RMB 5 million
2013: Overseas revenue surpassed RMB 40 million
2014: Annual revenue reached RMB 300 million
The brand name CARKU combines “Car” with the Chinese word “Cool,” symbolizing the company’s mission to create innovative and stylish automotive-related products.

Technology as the Foundation: From Lithium to Sodium, From Products to Intelligent Energy

In Lei Yun’s view, batteries are not merely energy storage devices—they are safeguards for human life.
Under his leadership, CARKU has invested heavily in sodium-ion battery technology. Compared with conventional lithium batteries, sodium-ion batteries demonstrate stronger performance in extreme temperatures while benefiting from abundant raw materials and controllable costs. The technology is emerging as a promising alternative to traditional lead-acid starter batteries.
To validate real-world reliability, Lei personally leads annual winter testing expeditions to some of China’s coldest regions, including Hailar and Genhe in Inner Mongolia, as well as Mohe in Heilongjiang Province.
“If a vehicle fails to start in extreme cold, it’s not just an inconvenience—it can become a life-threatening situation,” he explains. “We must be responsible to both our products and our users.”
Today, CARKU batteries integrate intelligent BMS systems equipped with 4G connectivity, AI-powered data analysis, and predictive warning capabilities. These systems monitor battery health and vehicle conditions in real time, and can even detect smoke or carbon monoxide levels to provide safety alerts for long-haul truck drivers.
“What we build is not a cold piece of hardware,” Lei says. “It is intelligent energy with warmth.”
Global Expansion with a Commitment to Home

CARKU’s business now spans Europe, North America, Australia, Japan, South Korea, Russia, and many other regions. The company has also actively expanded into the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa under global infrastructure and trade initiatives, evolving from exporting products to exporting manufacturing capabilities.

Despite international success, Lei remains deeply connected to his roots.

He established a branch office in Changsha, Hunan Province—not only because it is considered one of China’s happiest cities, but also due to its strong talent pool, supportive industrial policies, and high quality of life.
“I hope young people can achieve stability and a good life within just a few years of work,” he says. “That is both a corporate responsibility and my way of giving back to my hometown.”
Lei plans to gradually relocate more core business operations to Changsha to leverage regional advantages while contributing to local development.

Advice to Entrepreneurs: Be Ready Before the Opportunity Arrives

For young entrepreneurs eager to start their own ventures, Lei offers practical advice:
First, work within the industry to accumulate experience, capital, and professional networks. Then, at the right moment, partner with like-minded individuals and focus on niche segments within emerging industries.
In his view, entrepreneurship is not about chasing trends—it is about being fully prepared before the trend arrives.

Conclusion: Giving Energy a Human Touch

From a single automotive jump starter product to becoming a global leader in battery application solutions, CARKU—under Lei Yun’s leadership—continues to climb new heights in intelligent energy innovation with a fearless “Honey Badger” spirit.
Looking ahead, the company remains committed to its mission:“Smart energy makes life better.”
As global mobility transitions toward greener and safer energy solutions, CARKU aims to play an increasingly important role in the story of intelligent manufacturing from China.
Lei Yun summarizes his philosophy simply:“Fear nothing. Fight everything.”