SK On-Korea Electric Research Institute Join Forces to Develop Battery Safety Technology

New Evaluation Methods and Safety Technologies to Be Developed for Battery Performance, Reliability, and Safety
Joint Response to International Battery Standards

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] SK On announced on the 4th that it has signed an agreement with the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) to develop technologies and standards that enhance the safety of lithium-ion batteries.

The signing ceremony held at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was attended by Myung Seong-ho, President of KERI, Ji Dong-seop, CEO of SK On, and key officials. Through this agreement, both parties will collaborate to develop advanced battery technologies by conducting thorough experiments and research in areas such as battery performance, reliability, and safety.

First, the two sides will develop new evaluation methods to identify specific conditions causing battery fires based on their causes. For example, to analyze the cause of fires triggered by foreign substances entering battery cells, they will verify ignition conditions according to the type and amount of foreign substances and study the conditions under which fires ignite by assuming harsh environments that may occur in actual usage. Using the experimental data derived in this way, they will work on developing 'super-gap' technologies to prevent fires.

SK On also plans to raise internal quality evaluation standards beyond the required specifications. They intend to establish rigorous battery quality test standards considering situations that may occur in real electric vehicle driving environments.

For instance, in heat resistance durability tests that measure how much heat a battery can withstand, they will simultaneously apply external shocks to conduct complex stress tests. This approach signifies not settling for merely meeting existing international standards but considering all driving environments in which customers operate their vehicles. Through this, SK On aims to create a differentiated brand value that customers can trust and choose with confidence.

Additionally, both parties agreed to jointly address areas needing improvement in future international battery standards. They plan to propose measures to ensure that global standards properly reflect the intended evaluation purposes and produce accurate results, thereby contributing to the development of the electric vehicle and battery industries.

CEO Ji stated, "We will build an unparalleled super-gap safety that allows SK On batteries themselves to be recognized by customers as a new quality standard for safe and excellent electric vehicle choices, contributing to the advancement of the global battery industry and the growth of the electric vehicle ecosystem."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.