"Electric Vehicle Heating Improvement" Hyundai Motor-SK Enmove to Develop Next-Generation Refrigerant

Strengthening Thermal Management Systems... Targeting the Global Market

Hyundai Motor Group and SK Enmove are embarking on the development of next-generation vehicle refrigerants. The two companies plan to develop refrigerants for electric vehicles that provide both cooling and heating, aiming to improve heating performance by more than 30%. Through this, they intend to respond to greenhouse gas regulations and secure a leading position in the next-generation refrigerant market.

On the 25th, Hyundai Motor Group and SK Enmove signed a "Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the Development of Next-Generation Refrigerants" reflecting this plan. The signing ceremony held at the SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul, was attended by Hyundai Motor President Yang Hee-won and SK Enmove President Kim Won-gi, among others. SK Enmove will develop next-generation vehicle refrigerants needed for electric vehicles, while Hyundai Motor Group will develop vehicle thermal management systems applying these refrigerants.

The next-generation vehicle refrigerants are products with enhanced heating performance compared to existing vehicle refrigerants. Unlike internal combustion engine vehicles, electric vehicles do not generate waste heat from the engine for heating, so refrigerants that provide both cooling and heating are necessary. The two companies plan to develop these refrigerants so that they can also be applied to internal combustion engine vehicles.

Interior view of the electric vehicle 'EV4 Concept' exhibited at the 'Kia EV Day' event on October 12 last year [Image source=Yonhap News]

Hyundai Motor Group plans to utilize next-generation vehicle refrigerants combined with its accumulated thermal management and air conditioning system capabilities to improve electric vehicle driving range during winter, thereby enhancing consumer benefits. SK Enmove will leverage over 10 years of accumulated thermal management research and development (R&D) capabilities, including electric vehicle lubricants and immersion cooling fluids, to secure next-generation refrigerant technology early. Based on its production and sales network spanning more than 60 countries, established through high-quality lubricant ZIC exports, SK Enmove aims to secure global customers.

The two companies expect to create products and systems that can quickly respond to strengthened global greenhouse gas emission regulations and thereby secure a leading position in the next-generation refrigerant market. The European Union (EU) is expected to strengthen regulations on perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), drawing attention to next-generation vehicle refrigerants. The companies plan to develop products that are not subject to PFAS regulations and establish solutions for waste refrigerant recovery and recycling.

Kim Won-gi, President of SK Enmove, said, "We have begun full-scale next-generation refrigerant business as announced at last year's ZIC Brand Day. Through this collaboration, we will contribute to revitalizing the thermal management market and strengthen SK Enmove's thermal management capabilities to solidify our status as an Energy Saving Company."

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