SK Group has set and been taking actions to reach the goal of contributing 1% of global carbon reduction target. As a member of SK Group, SK Innovation, along with all its subsidiaries, is also taking the lead in the Net Zero journey by implementing “Carbon to Green” strategy to transform into a Green Energy & Materials Company.

Such efforts of SK Innovation affiliates will be showcased at CES 2023, the largest tech event in the world held in Las Vegas, the U.S. Through SKinno News’ latest series – “Into the 1nnovation,” we will give you a sneak peek at what SK Innovation and its subsidiaries will bring to the upcoming exhibition.

The first part of this series will be about the EV battery products and technologies of SK On and SK IE Technology, two subsidiaries of SK Innovation. As electric vehicles (EVs) are no longer an option but a must to deal with global warming, SK Innovation and its subsidiaries are making fast-paced progress in expanding EV battery portfolio, becoming top players in the related markets. Let’s check why SK batteries are well recognized globally.

 
| SF Battery (NCM811)
 

▲ SF Battery (NCM811) developed and produced by SK On

SF Battery (NCM811), also known as Super Fast Battery, is a type of NCM811 cell – the world’s first high-nickel battery successfully mass-produced by SK On. NCM811 refers to EV battery cells with nickel, cobalt, and manganese in a ratio of 8:1:1 approximately.

With SK On’s optimized fast-charging protocol, SF Battery can be charged from 10% to 80% within 18 minutes, making it the fastest charging one among all the EV batteries that are currently in the market. This battery is used in various EV series including Hyundai IONIQ 5 and KIA EV6, which boast the fastest charging performance in the world. SF Battery has won as the Best of Innovation in the “Embedded Technologies” and Honoree in the “Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility” categories at CES 2023 Innovation Awards, being recognized for its performance as well as safety that was proved by zero fire accident so far.

 
| NCM9+ Battery
 

▲ NCM9+ Battery developed and produced by SK On

NCM9+ battery is an advanced version of SK On’s NCM9, which is the current battery cell equipped in Ford’s F-150 Lightning. NCM is the abbreviation of nickel, manganese, cobalt, which are the three main materials of the battery, and number 9 indicates it has the proportion of nickel up to nearly 90%. The higher the nickel content means the higher energy density and better driving range.

While NCM9+ has won as an Honoree in “Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility” category at CES 2023 Innovation Awards, the original NCM9 was selected as a CES 2022 Innovation Honoree in two categories: “In-Vehicle Entertainment & Safety”, and “Embedded Technologies.” SK On is the first in the industry that has successfully developed the NCM9 battery based on its exclusively unrivaled safety technology and quality expertise.

With ceaseless research and development effort, SK On will soon introduce the NCM9+ battery that surpasses the current top-notch NCM9 battery.

 
| S-Pack
 

▲ A graphic image that shows S-Pack technology developed by SK On

S-Pack is an electric vehicle (EV) battery applied SK On’s exclusive EV CTP (Cell-to-pack) technology. It incorporates cutting-edge technology to enhance safety and prevent thermal propagation. By simplifying internal structure and relevant components, S-Pack maximizes the cell volume ratio of the pack. SK On also has applied its self-developed fire-protective technology to ensure no thermal propagation to the system or vehicle in case of cell ignition from abnormal uses.

With such innovation in battery cell development and proprietary pack technologies, SK On will lead the next generation of global EV market.

 
| LiBS (Lithium-ion Battery Separator)
 

▲ The LiBS (Lithium-ion Battery Separator) developed and produced by SK IE Technology

SK IE Technology (SKIET) is one of the world’s largest producers of LiBS (Lithium-ion Battery Separators), the ultra-thin and microporous films that serve as critical components of rechargeable batteries for IT devices, consumer applications, and electric vehicle (EV) batteries. A LiBS isolates cathode and anode materials to prevent an internal short circuit and provides a free flow channel for lithium ions to flow between the electrodes during the discharge and recharge cycles of a battery. According to SNE Research, in 2020 SKIET ranked No. 1 for production capabilities in the global premium wet-type LiBS market.

SKIET’s LiBS applies the eco-friendly ENPASSTM Ultrathin Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS), which has strong heat resistance, thereby reducing the risk of fire despite the heat emitted from large batteries. The ENPASSTM Ultrathin Ceramic Coated Separator (CCS) self-developed by SKIET has been selected as an Honoree in two categories of CES 2023 Innovation Awards (“Embedded Technologies” and “Vehicle Tech & Advanced Mobility”). Besides, SKIET’s LiBS is also made with the world’s first Sequential Stretching technology, which can freely extend the separators with uniform quality. With such distinguished features, SKIET’s LiBS boasts world-class quality and safety and is used for EV batteries that require high stability and power.