Hyundai Motor, SNU aim to develop dream battery

[Photo by Lee Chung-woo]

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group is rolling up its sleeves to take the lead in the future battery sector by developing a “dream battery” lasting 10 years and has a range of up to 100,000 kilometers on a single charge.

“(Currently), this dream battery ranging up to 1,000 kilometers on a single charge is at the experimental stage of preparation,” Choi Jang-wook, a professor of chemical and biological engineering at Seoul National University, said. “Now, the competition is unfolding at the mass production stage.”

Choi heads the Hyundai Motor Group-Seoul National University Battery Joint Research Center that was jointly formed by Hyundai Motor Group and Seoul National University in July 2023, and Hyundai Motor plans to invest over 30 billion won ($22.9 million) in the center by 2030. Despite having a secondary battery research lab within the conglomerate, Hyundai Motor invested in an external research center to focus on the breakthrough technology needed to develop the dream battery, which is currently a step behind in the battery race.

The center aligns its goals with the vision of a battery that lasts for 10 years and with a range of up to 10,000 kilometers on a single charge.

During a recent visit to the research lab, researchers engaged in intense discussions around compound synthesis.

“Before actual synthesis, we go through the design phase,” Choi said. “Unlike in the past, where trial and error occurred via actual synthesis, simulations using artificial intelligence (AI) precede the actual synthesis now.”

Choi is a globally renowned scholar pioneering the future of batteries by developing flexible battery materials and extending usage time by developing high-capacity electrode materials as well as post-lithium secondary battery technology.

He is viewed as a Korean researcher who is close to winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Currently, the most widely used battery is the lithium-ion battery but its’ clear disadvantages include frequent fires, long charging times, and a limited lifespan, preventing it from ending the era of internal combustion engines.

[Graphics by Song Ji-yoon and Lee Eun-joo]

One of the leading candidates in next-generation battery technology is solid-state batteries. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte, a lithium-ion mediator, with a solid substance and use the solid electrolyte as a substitute for the separator.

This structural solidity means that the battery maintains its form even if the packaging or electrolyte is damaged, thus reducing the risk of explosion or fire.

Using a solid electrolyte allows the use of lithium metal, which has the largest capacity among known cathode materials but was previously unused due to its instability.

“It is possible to increase the driving distance to 900 to 1,000 kilometers by using solid-state batteries, which elevates them to the level of internal combustion engines based on gasoline,” Choi said.

But there are challenges to overcome, as the performance of electrolyte materials is still insufficient and the use of a solid substance increases internal electrical resistance, leading to a shorter lifespan.

“Solid-stage batteries have already reached a significant level at the laboratory stage,,” Choi said. “But the key lies in the mass production stage, and how economically viable processes and materials can be secured.”

The joint research center is collaborating with SES, a global startup developing lithium-metal batteries.

“Various materials are emerging to replace lithium-ion batteries, such as solid-stage batteries and lithium-sulfur batteries,” Choi said.

Leading battery companies such as LG Energy Solution Ltd., Samsung SDI Co., and SK innovation Co. are dominating the global market as well as leading the trilateral battery competition among Korea, China, and Japan.

Choi noted that Korea’s greatest competitiveness lies in having sufficient expertise in technology and manufacturing.

“From materials and components to cell makers, the supply chain is in place, enabling us to exert strength in the future battery competition,” he said.

China, which is rapidly advancing, also poses a significant threat to the Korean battery industry.

“While battery technology is important, China controls the raw material. She is a competitor, but we also need to consider a cooperative model.” Choi advised.

“China’s battery research community is immense, and internal competition is fierce,” Choi said. “Ultimately, the battery industry is created by talents from the field of science and engineering, and individuals with interest and talent in this field need to continue entering.”