- Following reports from the new year that Hyundai is readying up pilot production of its solid state EV battery technology, the Korean manufacturer is set to unveil the tech on the 9th of March next month, with the opening of a new research facility in South Korea – according to Korean outlet ETNEWS.
- A pilot production line for fully solid state batteries is expected to open at the site next month, with the manufacturer targeting mass production of such batteries by 2030 – and have at least one solid state electric vehicle available on the market, within the same timeframe.
- The technology and specifications behind Hyundai’s solid state batteries are also expected to be revealed for the first time, at the opening ceremony.
Hyundai’s solid state battery technology gets closer
We’ll have to wait until the March opening ceremony to get the full technical details on Hyundai’s solid state tech. However, with what we already know about solid state batteries in general, the new batteries should display a marked improvement over the current lithium-ion battery technology fitted to all of Hyundai’s current BEV range. Solid state batteries generally have an energy density two times higher than their lithium-ion equivalents. This means that a future EV of the same weight could see double the range figure, but it can also allow for more range to be packed into a lighter package – making them perfect for city car applications also.
While battery manufacturers such as Samsung SDI are also exploring solid state batteries which it can then offer to automotive OEMs, Hyundai exists as one of several OEMs, such as Toyota and SAIC, hoping to produce solid state batteries in-house. Currently Hyundai’s demand for EV batteries comes from battery specialists such as SK On, CATL, and LG Energy Solution. Whilst going it alone on battery production requires significant internal investment, the return on investment could be beneficial in the longer term – allowing automakers such as Hyundai to remain more or fully independent in their EV battery supply.
