SK On, a South Korean battery manufacturer, has announced that it will showcase a prismatic battery mock-up at InterBattery 2023, the largest battery exhibition in Korea, which will be held at COEX, Seoul from March 15 to 17.
The company has completed the prototype development of this battery and plans to start producing this type of cell this year.
One of the standout features of SK on's prismatic battery is its fast-charging speed. The company's Super Fast (SF) battery, which won the Best of Innovation Awards at CES 2023, can charge up to 80% in just 18 minutes.
The new prismatic cell is expected to enhance the speed even further. By introducing prismatic cells, SK On aims to expand its customer base beyond its traditional pouch-type batteries.
Last year, SK On participated in InterBattery for the first time since its spinoff from SK Innovation. The main theme of the company's exhibition was "Power On", which marked the beginning of SK On's efforts to break into the market. This year, the theme will be "Move On", which represents the company's business expansion and advancement.
The key focus of SK On's exhibition at InterBattery 2023 will be its diversified Cell Portfolio, which has not been disclosed yet. Along with the prismatic battery, the company will also unveil its LFP battery and the Cobalt Free (Co-Free) battery, which completely excludes cobalt. Additionally, all-solid-state batteries that incorporate SK On's unique next-generation technology will be displayed.
SK On has successfully developed a Co-Free battery more than a year ahead of its target date. Ternary lithium batteries typically have a shorter lifespan without cobalt due to structural instability, but SK On has overcome this critical flaw.
Furthermore, SK On has improved the energy density problem of Co-Free batteries through its proprietary high-nickel technology, resulting in an extended driving range. Cobalt, the most expensive material among the ternary lithium battery materials, will be replaced with either of nickel or manganese, which is expected to increase its price competitiveness.
This year's exhibition will also feature SK On's prototype LFP battery. Under cold weather, the mileage of a vehicle using an LFP battery is sharply decreased, normally to only 50% to 70% when the temperature hits minus 20 Celsius degree.
However, SK On has improved this problem, increasing the level to 70% ~ 80%. This is thanks to the fact that SK On applied the material and electrode technology it accumulated through high-nickel batteries to LFP batteries. Although LFP batteries have a shorter driving range than ternary lithium batteries, they are cost-effective. This was evaluated as hitting two birds with one stone: technology and price.
The prototype of SK On's all solid-state batteries, which are under development as next-generation batteries, will also be displayed at InterBattery 2023. Choi Kyoung-hwan, who is leading the development of SK On's next-generation batteries, will deliver a speech titled "All-solid-state Batteries: SK On's Technology Strategy for Safer Batteries" on the opening day, March 15. To realize a safe battery with high energy density, SK On is now developing the sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries and the high molecular/oxide-based all-solid-state batteries.
SK On's exhibition hall represents the power source (on) button and consists of three zones. At the entrance of the booth, visitors will encounter SK On's diversified portfolio and technology, which has been globally renowned through various exhibitions such as CES, the biggest home appliance and IT exhibition in the world. The NCM9+ high-nickel battery, which won the CES Innovation Award for two consecutive years, as well as the prototypes of Co-Free.
The first zone, called "Present", offers visitors the opportunity to interact with SK On's battery manufacturing process. They can observe how the battery is created, from the raw materials to the finished product, including the creation of pouches, laminations, and cells. In this zone, SK On also showcases their premium separator technology, which prevents the anodes and cathodes from coming into contact, as well as the "Z-Folding Technique" which arranges the separators in a zigzag pattern. Additionally, visitors can learn about SK on's Cell-to-Pack (CTP) technology through the "S-Pack" model, which prevents the spread of fires from a single cell to the entire battery pack by blocking heat.
The second zone, "Application", demonstrates the impressive performance of SK On's high-nickel batteries. One example is the "Vehicle to Load (V2L)" technology, which enables battery power to be supplied to external electronic devices. The NCM9 battery gained significant attention when an electric pick-up truck owner used the battery to power their home for 44 hours during a major power outage caused by heavy snowfall in Canada at the end of last year, with 65% of the battery's capacity still remaining.
The third zone, "Future", showcases SK On's vision for the next generation of technology, including all-solid-state batteries. In addition, SK On presents their commitment to achieving Net Zero carbon emissions and their eco-friendly policy that covers the entire life cycle of their batteries, from raw materials to manufacturing, recharging, collection, and recycling of waste batteries.
An SK On official stated that the company plans to showcase its current state and upcoming EV battery technologies, emphasizing their world-class technology and commitment to meeting the diverse needs of their customers through portfolio diversification.
