LG Energy Solution Promises "Ultra-Fast Charging in Under 10 Minutes"... Samsung SDI Unveils "Fire-Safe Batteries"

Byungchun Park, head of cathode material technology at LG Energy Solution, is giving a presentation at 'KABC2025' held at EL Tower in Yangjae-dong, Seoul on the 17th. Photo by Heejong Kang

원본보기 아이콘

As early as 2027, electric vehicles capable of ultra-fast charging in under 10 minutes are expected to debut. In addition, battery technologies that ensure safety from fires are becoming a reality.

On the 17th, at the Korea Advanced Battery Conference (KABC) 2025, hosted by battery market research firm SNE Research, LG Energy Solution and Samsung SDI introduced these next-generation battery technologies.

Byungchun Park, head of cathode material technology at LG Energy Solution, stated, "After 2027, we plan to address the premium, standard (mass-market), and affordable (mid- to low-priced) electric vehicle markets with high-nickel NCMA (nickel, cobalt, manganese, aluminum), single-crystal high-voltage mid-nickel NCM (nickel, cobalt, manganese), LMR (lithium manganese rich), and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, respectively."

LG Energy Solution is preparing for the premium electric vehicle market with batteries that use high-nickel NCMA with increased energy density and silicon-based graphite anodes. These batteries will adopt a comprehensive fast-charging solution.

Park explained, "Even if the driving range increases to 800 km or 1,000 km, our clients want the charging time to remain the same. The next-generation high-nickel batteries are being designed to enable ultra-fast charging in under 10 minutes." LG Energy Solution has been applying high-nickel NCMA cathode materials with more than 94% nickel content since this year.

For standard electric vehicles, the company plans to respond with high-voltage single-crystal mid-nickel (Mid-Ni) batteries. These batteries use cathode materials with reduced nickel and cobalt content and increased manganese proportion. By achieving a higher voltage (4.4V) compared to conventional high-nickel batteries (4.2V), they can increase energy density and enhance thermal stability.

LG Energy Solution explained, "High-voltage single-crystal mid-nickel batteries are 25% less expensive than conventional high-nickel batteries, making price parity with internal combustion engine vehicles possible." Parity refers to the point at which electric vehicles and internal combustion engine vehicles reach the same price level.

LG Energy Solution's high-voltage single-crystal mid-nickel batteries can maintain 95% state of health (SOH) even after 500 charge-discharge cycles. Under the same conditions, the remaining life of conventional high-nickel batteries is around 90%. In addition, gas emissions can be reduced by 45%.

Targeting the mid- to low-priced market, LG Energy Solution is preparing LFP batteries that use dry electrode technology. Park explained, "Dry electrode technology will be applied to LFP batteries before NCM batteries."

LG Energy Solution is also developing LMR cathode materials to reduce reliance on Chinese LFP materials. LMR batteries are expected to be released in prismatic form factors and are aimed at the North American and European markets, where regulations on Chinese materials are strict.

Park stated, "Depending on the maturity of material development and the supply chain system, LMR batteries could be installed in either standard or mid- to low-priced electric vehicles. However, we have not yet found a clear positioning for them."

Kim Jongchan, Group Leader of Product Planning Team at Samsung SDI, is presenting at the 'KABC 2025' event held on the 17th. Photo by Kang Heejong

원본보기 아이콘

Kim Jongchan, Group Leader of the Product Planning Team at Samsung SDI, focused on highlighting the advantages of the company's prismatic batteries during the event.

Because prismatic batteries use aluminum cans, they can be manufactured in various sizes and shapes according to customer requirements. Recently, global electric vehicle manufacturers have shown increasing demand for prismatic batteries.

Kim explained, "By increasing the size and height of prismatic batteries, greater energy capacity can be achieved in a single cell. This reduces the number of components, lowers costs, and improves energy density per unit weight."

Prismatic batteries have excellent structural stability due to their robust outer casing and laser welding. Kim stated, "They can withstand pressure up to 10 bar."

In particular, prismatic batteries offer superior fire safety because they can be equipped with vents to release abnormal gases generated inside the battery. Kim explained that the company has developed No-TP (thermal propagation) technology, which prevents thermal runaway.

On this day, Samsung SDI showcased a fire safety test using a high-nickel NCA (nickel, cobalt, aluminum) battery pack with 91% nickel content and a capacity of 180 ampere-hours (Ah). In the test, the temperature in a specific cell rose to 1,200 degrees Celsius, but the gas was vented out, preventing further temperature increase and stopping the spread to adjacent cells.

Samsung SDI explained that it is developing batteries for three categories of electric vehicles: premium, volume (mass-market), and entry (mid- to low-priced). Premium electric vehicles will use high-nickel NCA cathode materials combining single-crystal and polycrystal types, with a capacity of over 700 kWh. The anode will use the company's proprietary silicon-carbon composite (SCN) material. For mass-market electric vehicles, high-voltage mid-nickel batteries will be used, while LFP batteries will address the mid- to low-priced market.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.