Battery Big 3 to Showcase New Battery Technologies Including ESS and All-Solid-State at InterBattery (Comprehensive)

Aerial view of LG Energy Solution's booth at InterBattery 2023. Photo by LG Energy Solution

Battery industry leaders LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI will participate in 'InterBattery 2023,' held for three days starting on the 15th at COEX in Seoul.

Now in its 11th year, InterBattery is the largest secondary battery industry exhibition in Korea. It is hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Battery Industry Association. This year, a total of 198 companies, including major domestic secondary battery manufacturers such as LG Energy Solution, as well as material, equipment, and component-related firms, will participate.

LG Energy Solution Unveils Bendable Batteries and New LFP Technology

LG Energy Solution will showcase next-generation batteries and innovations in materials and processes under the theme "A Global Leader Presenting a Sustainable Future Life with Innovative Battery Technology."

They will introduce electric vehicles and new battery service businesses not yet launched domestically. Visitors to the LG Energy Solution booth can see Ford’s Mustang Mach-E and Lucid Air, a premium sedan from the American electric vehicle company Lucid Motors. These electric vehicles are equipped with LG Energy Solution batteries. Also on display are the Battery Swapping Station (BSS) being prepared for commercialization by the in-house independent company KooRoo, and LFP battery cells.

KooRoo, LG Energy Solution’s in-house independent company launched in October last year, will present the Battery Swapping Station (BSS). BSS is a service that allows electric two-wheelers to use battery packs by swapping rather than charging, aiming for commercialization this year. The comprehensive electric vehicle battery diagnostic service B-Life Care, which provides customized services such as battery remaining life and optimal driving routes for each vehicle, will also be demonstrated.

For the first time at a domestic exhibition, LG Energy Solution will showcase lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells. Power grid and residential products equipped with these cells will also be exhibited. LFP batteries have advantages such as lower cost and higher safety compared to NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) batteries. Additionally, they will introduce freely bendable preform batteries and curved batteries used in virtual reality (VR) goggles.

Prismatic battery to be introduced by SK On. Photo by SK On

SK On to Manufacture Prismatic and LFP Batteries

SK On will unveil a physical model of its prismatic battery for the first time. Having previously produced only pouch-type batteries, SK On plans to enhance competitiveness and meet diverse demands from automakers by developing various form factors.

SK On has completed the development of a prismatic prototype and plans to begin prototype production within this year. The prismatic battery is characterized by fast charging speed.

At CES 2023, the world’s largest home appliance and IT exhibition held earlier this year, SK On’s rapid charging battery won the Best Innovation Award, capable of charging up to 80% in 18 minutes. The company states that the prismatic battery charges even faster than this.

They will also reveal cobalt-free (Co-Free) batteries that completely exclude cobalt and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. SK On developed the cobalt-free battery ahead of schedule by more than a year. Typically, ternary batteries without cobalt suffer from structural instability leading to shorter lifespans, but SK On has resolved these issues.

By applying high-nickel technology, SK On improved the energy density problem of cobalt-free batteries, securing driving range. An LFP battery prototype will also be displayed. While LFP batteries typically experience a sharp drop in driving range to 50-70% of normal levels in temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius, SK On has improved this to 70-80%. They will also showcase a next-generation all-solid-state battery under development.

Samsung Demonstrates 'Super-Gap' Fast Charging and All-Solid-State Technology

Samsung SDI will expand its battery lineup under the brand name 'PRiMX' and showcase its 'super-gap' technological prowess.

Centered around the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Core Technology zones in the booth, Samsung SDI will display prismatic, cylindrical, pouch, and button batteries, as well as key applications equipped with these batteries, including electric vehicles, IT & wearable devices, power tools, and ESS (energy storage systems).

Visitors can explore Samsung SDI’s stacking method (layering battery materials), fast-charging material technology, and all-solid-state batteries, highlighting the company’s differentiated technological competitiveness as a battery industry leader.

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