As I wrote earlier at the moment, this new electrical automobile period is all about batteries, batteries, batteries. A lot of that merely means scaling up the battery provide chain and scaling up battery manufacturing, but it surely additionally means innovating and bettering battery chemistry. Whereas Hyundai is working with SK On and LG Power Answer on the previous, it’s now working with Seoul Nationwide College on the latter. Hyundai Motor Group and Seoul Nationwide College have teamed as much as open the Joint Battery Analysis Heart on the extremely regarded South Korean college. The purpose: world domination. Or, nicely, in barely much less menacing phrases, “international management within the battery discipline.” Similar factor, proper?
The opening ceremony was at the moment, and it was positive filled with huge names. Friends included:
- Euisun Chung, Govt Chair of Hyundai Motor Group
- Yong Wha Kim, President and Chief Expertise Officer of Hyundai Motor Group
- Heung Soo Kim, Govt Vice President and Head of International Technique Workplace of Hyundai Motor Group
- Chang Hwan Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Battery Improvement Heart of Hyundai Motor Group
- Hong Lim Ryu, President of Seoul Nationwide College (SNU)
- Yoo Suk Hong, Dean of Seoul Nationwide College Faculty of Engineering
- Seung Hwan Ko, Affiliate Dean of Analysis Affairs of the Faculty of Engineering, SNU
- Jong Chan Lee, Head of the College of Chemical and Organic Engineering, SNU
- Jang Wook Choi, Head of the Joint Battery Analysis Heart and Professor on the College of Chemical and Organic Engineering, SNU
There have been numerous grand however generic statements made by a few of these folks and put out by their press groups.
The collaborative analysis middle has been deliberate for a very long time, and we almost definitely reported on it after which forgot about it within the meantime. “The Joint Battery Analysis Heart started to take form in November 2021, when the Group and Seoul Nationwide College signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the ‘institution of a joint battery analysis middle and mid- to long-term joint analysis’ based mostly on the consensus on realizing carbon neutrality and making a battery analysis ecosystem.”
What does the collaboration truly entail? Rather a lot. “To foster shut cooperation amongst researchers, the brand new analysis facility will safe a devoted house for battery-only analysis throughout the expanded Institute of Chemical Processes of Seoul Nationwide College, spanning three flooring (901 m2). It should include seven laboratories and convention rooms for battery improvement, evaluation, measurement, and course of.”
There may be, after all, quite a lot of battery analysis happening around the globe — in universities and in companies. Nonetheless, I subscribe to the previous perception that companies and college researchers can do extra collectively. They every have their strengths and weaknesses, and generally these can complement one another an amazing deal. On this case, to begin, “a complete of twenty-two joint analysis initiatives will likely be carried out in 4 divisions, together with lithium steel batteries, solid-state batteries, battery administration programs (BMS) and battery course of know-how. A complete of 21 professors and grasp’s and doctorate-level abilities from eminent Korean universities will take part within the analysis. 14 of the 22 analysis initiatives will likely be associated to lithium steel and solid-state batteries, focusing their core capabilities on growing next-generation batteries.” That is actually in regards to the lengthy recreation, as one would possibly anticipate from the core involvement of a analysis college.
As one would anticipate from a serious company being concerned, although, the analysis will hold a watch towards mass manufacturing. And that doesn’t simply imply within the lengthy, long run. “To that finish, the Joint Battery Analysis Heart has the identical degree of analysis infrastructure because the state-of-the-art tools utilized to the Hyundai Motor and Kia R&D facilities, equivalent to precision battery evaluation tools, high-precision rheometers, cell manufacturing tools, and impedance measuring units, in order that the college’s analysis outcomes might be rapidly utilized to merchandise.”
Extra specifics: “Within the discipline of lithium steel batteries, analysis will likely be performed on high-durability lithium-electrolyte materials ingredient know-how and form evaluation to attenuate deterioration, whereas within the discipline of solid-state batteries, analysis will likely be performed on sulfide-based anode supplies, electrode/electrolyte coating strategies and ultra-high power density cathode lively supplies.”
Hyundai Motor Group is investing KRW 30 billion ($23.5 million) into this Joint Battery Analysis Heart by 2030. Naturally, that is simply a part of its huge battery grasp plan. “Based mostly on its long-standing expertise in growing and mass-producing EVs, the Group can also be actively searching for to safe daring funding and improvement capabilities in the important thing battery sector. Specifically, the Group plans to encompasses all areas of batteries by stabilizing materials provide, strengthening battery design and administration capabilities and growing next-generation batteries.
“Hyundai Motor will make investments KRW 9.5 trillion over the following 10 years to actively enhance battery efficiency, develop superior applied sciences for next-generation batteries, and construct infrastructure.”
That’s about $7.5 billion.
We’ll see what comes of the Hyundai Motor Group and Seoul Nationwide College collaboration. There may be a lot battery analysis carried out day by day internationally. One can’t anticipate miracles. That stated, there’s one thing about this partnership that makes me hopeful. Maybe it’s that Hyundai Motor Group has been a little bit of a pacesetter in EV improvement and know-how up to now decade. Maybe it’s the truth that South Korea has lengthy been an EV battery chief — with corporations like LG Power Answer (previously LG Chem), SK On, and Samsung SDI standing excessive on this discipline for a decade as nicely. Maybe it’s the in depth nature and apparent dedication of this company–college partnership. I’m unsure what it’s, however I’m hopeful. Let’s see what occurs.
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