Hyundai, Kia team up with 11 universities for vehicle electrification

South Korean auto giant Hyundai Motor Co. and its sister company Kia Corp. are joining forces with leading South Korean universities to pioneer advancements in electric vehicle (EV) power electric (PE) components, aiming to secure a competitive edge in the burgeoning global EV market. 

The companies announced the initiative at an event on Tuesday, marking the establishment of the "Electrification System Joint Research Laboratory." The event, held at the International Convention Center in Jeju Island, saw representatives from Hyundai, Kia and 11 top-tier universities, including Seoul National University, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (KAIST).

The newly formed joint research laboratory will host researchers from various universities, each specializing in different facets of PE components. This collaboration will drive research in next-generation technologies that will bolster Hyundai and Kia's competitive position in the EV market.

The research collaboration is split into three distinct groups: the inverter group, the drive motor group, and the charging group.

The inverter group, comprising six research teams led by academics from institutions including Seoul National University and Korea University, will conduct joint research projects focusing on enhancing energy efficiency and high-performance control technology for EV.

Four research teams comprise the drive motor group, representing universities such as Sungkyunkwan University and Chungnam National University. Their work will focus on developing ultra-high-density motors and novel materials, as well as cooling technologies for high-efficiency drive systems.

The charging group, consisting of five research teams from universities including Seoul National University and KAIST, will develop charging and converter technologies aimed at fast, user-friendly charging systems.

Hyundai and Kia will manage the joint research laboratory, providing funding for a total of 15 research projects. They will also foster a network between their own researchers and the university research teams, facilitating recruitment connections for top researchers from the lab.

"As we navigate the shift in mobility toward electrification, the value of academic collaboration and mutually beneficial cooperation cannot be overstated," head of Hyundai Motor and Kia's Electrification Design Center Jung Jin-hwan asserted.

"We foresee this initiative equipping a new generation of researchers, capable of steering the electrification era, and facilitating the development of an abundance of pioneering technologies."

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com