SK On is showcasing a more advanced rapid charging performance with its new battery. This new product is expected to enhance the usability of electric vehicles by maintaining rapid charging performance while increasing energy density compared to existing SF batteries (Super Fast).
On the 3rd, SK On announced that it will unveil the Advanced SF Battery at the country’s largest battery exhibition, ‘Interbattery 2024,’ held from June 6 to 8 at COEX in Samseong-dong, Seoul.
The SF battery is a high-nickel battery first unveiled by SK On in 2021. It can charge from 10% to 80% of its cell capacity in just 18 minutes. The Advanced SF battery boasts a 9% higher energy density while maintaining the same rapid charging time. A higher energy density allows for more energy storage, thus extending the driving range on a single charge.
The Advanced SF battery is the result of SK On’s continuous improvements in its proprietary rapid charging technology. The charging speed of a battery is determined by the distance and speed of lithium-ion movement. Generally, when energy density is high, the anode resistance is also high, slowing down lithium-ion movement speed, which prolongs charging times.
SK On has made groundbreaking reductions in anode resistance through a specialized coating method and applied an anode alignment process that shortens the lithium-ion movement path.
Furthermore, SK On developed the Advanced SF battery by implementing an optimized rapid charging protocol using analytical technology that can maximize charging speed.
SK On is also introducing the SF+ battery, which reduces the rapid charging time from 18 minutes to 15 minutes. The company utilizes a dual-layer structure unique to SK On, incorporating high-capacity silicon and low-resistance graphite to reduce lithium-ion movement distances and increase movement speed. The high-capacity silicon improves distance, while the low-resistance graphite enhances speed.
A ‘Winter Pro’ LFP battery with improved low-temperature performance will also be showcased. Typically, LFP batteries see a drastic reduction of 50-70% in driving range at low temperatures (-20℃). In contrast, the Winter Pro LFP battery boasts a 19% increase in energy density while improving both charging and discharging capacities at low temperatures compared to conventional LFP batteries, increasing by approximately 16% and 10%, respectively.
This year’s theme for SK On at Interbattery is ‘Speed On.’ After participating in the 2022 Interbattery under the slogan ‘Power On,’ meaning ‘casting a declaration’, and last year with ‘Move On,’ which meant ‘expanding and developing’, this year’s slogan signifies the intent to ‘accelerate growth’ with ‘Speed On’.
SK On has arranged its exhibition space into four areas, showcasing its aspirations to enhance its global stature and grow more rapidly through a diversified portfolio driven by innovative technologies.
Upon entering the first area, ‘Global ON’, attendees will walk along a runway lined with miniature vehicles powered by SK On batteries.
Upon entering this area, visitors will encounter a spherical LED (media orb). Pressing the button on the media orb will display the locations and information of SK On’s global sites. A large LED wall behind it will showcase videos of global sites.
The second area, ‘Innovative Technology’, highlights the manufacturing technology of SK On’s high-nickel battery’s cathode active materials using a non-washing method. Residual lithium generated during the production of active cathode materials can produce unnecessary gases during battery operation and create by-products on the surface that degrade cathode performance.
Typically, residual lithium is removed through a washing process that damages the structure of the active cathode materials and further degrades performance. SK On has improved this performance by replacing this process with a non-washing method using a specially developed coating material, eliminating the use of water.
*Cathode active material: A substance that holds lithium ions at the cathode of the battery and provides them to the anode during charging. It constitutes various materials by combining the properties of each, such as NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese), LFP (lithium iron phosphate), LCO (lithium cobalt oxide), and LMO (lithium manganese oxide).
The third area, ‘Application’, features actual vehicles equipped with SK On batteries. The Genesis eG80 and Kia EV9 vehicles are showcased alongside SF and Advanced SF batteries. Holographic visuals offer an enhanced informational display about the batteries.
SK On is also unveiling its energy storage system (ESS) for the first time. They will present a next-generation DC block model of their ESS modules connected in series/parallel at a 1/10 scale. Users will be able to monitor the real-time status of individual cells and modules, including output, charge amount, and malfunction status.
This corner will also introduce SK On’s fire safety technology for ESS, including the thermal propagation prevention solution that received North American ESS fire safety certification for the first time in Korea, as well as a liquid cooling method that minimizes temperature differences between cells and enhances charging/discharging efficiency.
In the final exhibition area, ‘Diversifying Battery Portfolio’, SK On will showcase its strategy for diversifying its form factors and chemistries (materials used for cathodes and anodes). Visitors will be able to see an array of SK On’s diverse portfolio, including enhanced performance products like the SF+ battery and Winter Pro battery, as well as prismatic and solid-state batteries.
SK On officials stated, “Visitors to the exhibition will be able to experience SK On’s globally top-level R&D capabilities both directly and indirectly” and added, “We will continue to meet the diverse demands of various customers through constant innovation in technology development and portfolio diversification.”
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr