Korea EV cell makers unveil new products to expand market

South Korea’s electric vehicle battery makers on Wednesday unveiled prototypes of new products, especially lithium iron phosphate (LFP) models, to increase their market shares with the low-priced cells amid the growing influence of Chinese rivals in the global EV industry.

LG Energy Solution Ltd., the world’s second-largest battery manufacturer, showcased an LFP battery prototype at InterBattery 2023, South Korea’s largest battery show.

The company is developing LFP batteries for energy storage systems (ESSs), which would be produced in Nanjing, China and Ochang, South Korea. The battery supplier is also known to be researching LFP batteries for EVs based on the cells for ESSs.

Demand for LFP batteries among global EV makers is increasing as automakers are focusing more on low-end models. LFP batteries have been mainly produced by Chinese companies such as Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. (CATL), the world’s top battery maker, and BYD.

On the other hand, South Korean battery makers have been concentrating on more-expensive nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cells.

SK On Co., the world’s No. 5 cell producer, introduced a prototype of advanced LFP batteries, which improved the mileage. The driving range of existing LFP batteries often drops by 50-70% when the temperature falls below 0 degrees Celsius. The mileage of SK On’s new LFP batteries declines by only up to 30% in such cold weather.

The company also showcased a prototype of solid-state batteries, a game changer in the EV sector, to be mass-produced in 2029.

SOLID-STATE BATTERIES, OTHERS

Solid-state batteries are touted as “dream batteries,” which the global cell industry are scrambling to develop, thanks to their better safety and higher energy density than lithium-ion models.

Visitors of the show flocked to Samsung SDI’s booth to take a look at its prototype of solid-state batteries, asking about mass-production plans and technical issues.

Samsung SDI Co., which is building a pilot production line to be completed in the first half, targets full-scale production of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) in 2027.

South Korean battery makers showcased other new products.

Samsung SDI introduced a new ESS module aimed at the storage industry, which is rapidly growing on the expansion of renewable energy. Samsung SDI’s module is better than existing batteries' as it is equipped with a direct injection system and water-cooling technology, according to the company.

SK On unveiled its first prismatic battery model, expected to attract more EV makers. The battery unit of South Korea’s second-largest conglomerate SK Group has been manufacturing only pouch types.

LG Energy’s in-house company KooRoo introduced a battery swapping station (BSS) for electric motorcycles.

Meanwhile, battery ingredients maker POSCO Chemical Co. showcased silicon anode, a next-generation material for lithium-ion batteries, in addition to natural graphite, artificial graphite and low-expansion anode materials.

The company also introduced the development status of technologies for high-performance cathodes to be applied to solid-state batteries and lithium metal anodes.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim and Il-Gue Kim at khk@hankyung.com
 
Jongwoo Cheon edited this article.