SK On, a South Korean electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturer, has received the Bronze award in EV Battery Enhancement of the Smart Transportation category at the Edison Awards 2023 held on April 23. SK On has become the first global battery manufacturer to win this award, with the exception of start-ups and R&D companies.
The Edison Awards recognized SK On for its exceptional work in the development of the NCM9 battery. NCM9 is the world’s first commercialized NCM battery with a nickel content of almost 90 percent. The acronym NCM stands for the three primary materials used in electric vehicle batteries: nickel, manganese, and cobalt.
The higher nickel content in the NCM9 battery improves battery output and increases energy efficiency, which in turn allows electric vehicles to achieve high performance. However, a higher nickel content can lead to problems with battery life and thermal safety, which necessitates the use of advanced manufacturing technology to produce the battery.
To mitigate these problems, SK On applied advanced technologies, including its own Z-folding technology. Z-folding technology is a stacking method that intersects and stacks cathodes and anodes evenly between separators in a zigzag shape to achieve a higher level of safety.
SK On's NCM9 battery had already been recognized for its technological prowess by winning the Innovation Award for two consecutive years at CES 2023, one of the world’s largest technology exhibitions. At CES 2023, SK On received the Best Innovation Award in the field of ‘Embedded Technologies’ for its SF battery (Super Fast Battery), which highlights its innovation in battery charging speed and performance. This achievement is also the first of its kind in the Korean battery industry.
Established in 1987, the Edison Awards is an annual competition that honors excellence in new product and service development, marketing, design, and innovation. It is named after Thomas Alva Edison, an American inventor and businessman with an international presence.
“SK On’s battery technology has been proven once again by winning an award at a prestigious awards ceremony in the U.S. following the CES Best Innovation Award,” said a representative from SK On. “We will continue to showcase advanced battery technologies.”
