SK On is participating in InterBattery 2023 held at Coex Convention & Exhibition Center, Seoul from March 15 to 17. Hosted by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, InterBattery is Korea’s most representative battery exhibition event that attracts hundreds of battery companies and tens of thousands of visitors every year.

This year, SK On’s exhibition at InterBattery is under the main theme of “Move On,” which reflects the company’s business expansion and growth. In particular, SK On is attracting great attention by unveiling for the first time a diverse battery portfolio that includes not only the well-known pouch types but also prismatic batteries, LFP, and cobalt-free cells.

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At InterBattery 2023, SK On exhibits NCM9+, which won the Innovation Award from CES 2023 held in Las Vegas in early January this year. The NCM9+ is an energy-density-improved version of NCM9, a battery model that SK On developed by increasing the ratio of nickel to more than 90% for the first time in the world. SK On has completed the development of NCM9+ and is now awaiting its mass production.

The most highlighted point in the exhibition of SK On at InterBattery this year is the unveiling of different battery cell models.

SK On succeeded in developing a “Cobalt Free” (Co-Free) battery more than a year ahead of its target date. Without cobalt, ternary lithium batteries, represented by NCM (Nickel/Cobalt/Manganese), have a limitation in that their lifespan is reduced due to structural instability. SK On nevertheless overcame this critical flaw by applying its original coating and doping technique. Besides, with SK On’s own High Nickel (High-Ni) technology, the energy density problem in Co-Free batteries can be improved to secure an extended driving range. Furthermore, as cobalt, the most expensive material among the ternary lithium battery materials, will be replaced with either of nickel or manganese, it is expected that the Co-Free batteries will have improved price

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Visitors can also check SK On’s prototype LFP batteries at the company’s booth this time. When the weather gets cold, the mileage of a vehicle using an LFP battery sharply decreases, usually to only 50% to 70% when the temperature hits minus 20 Celsius degrees. However, SK On improved this problem, increase the level to 70% ~ 80% by applying the material and electrode technology it accumulated through high-nickel batteries to LFP batteries. Although the LFP batteries have a shorter driving range than ternary lithium batteries, they can be produced at a low cost. Therefore, the industry evaluates that SK On can hit two birds with one stone with its LFP cells: technology and price.

Another type of cell that is revealed for the first time by SK On at InterBattery 2023 is the prismatic cell, which boasts fast charging speed. Recently, SK On has won the Best of Innovation Award at CES 2023 for its Super Fast (SF) battery that can charge up to 80% in 18 minutes. The prismatic cell unveiled this time is introduced to have faster charging speed than the SF batteries, catching attention of the public even before the opening day of InterBattery 2023.

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SK On’s hall at InterBattery 2023 was designed with the motive of the power ON button and under the main theme of “Move On”. The hall was divided into 3 sections entitled “Present,” “Application,” and “Future.”

In the first section “Present,” visitors can touch raw battery materials, pouches, laminations, and cells according to the battery manufacturing order. In addition, visitors can also check the premium separators, which are used to block contact between anodes and cathodes within a cell, and Z-folding technique, and more. Z-folding is a technique that a separator goes between the anodes and cathodes in zigzags and wraps them with perfect alignment, thereby allowing complete separation of the anode and cathode to maximize safety.

Also, SK On revealed Cell-to-Pack (CTP) technology through the S-Pack model, which blocks heat to prevent fires from spreading from a battery cell to the entire pack. S-Pack technology gained attention as a pack solution that maximizes the stability of energy density and safety through minimized modules and efficient heat control

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The second “Application” section introduces the excellent performance of SK On’s High-Ni batteries through “Vehicle to Load” (V2L) technology that applies battery power to external electronic devices. Besides, inside this section, visitors can meet the eGV70, an electric vehicle model of Hyundai Motors’ premium brand Genesis. eGV70 is equipped with SK On’s battery that can be charged super-fast from 10% to 80% in 18 minutes and can travel up to 400km on a single charge.

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In the third section “Future”, visitors can check SK On’s next generation battery technologies through the display of the company’s all-solid-state batteries protypes. SK On is now developing the sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries and high molecular/oxide-based all-solid-state batteries to realize a safe battery with high energy density for the near future.

At this exhibition, SK On also introduced the battery monitoring integrated circuit (BMIC) jointly developed with Autosilicon, a developer specializing in battery and automotive semiconductors. Moreover, SK On presents its Net Zero vision through the explanation of eco-friendly activities covering the entire life cycle of batteries, from battery raw materials to production, charging, end-of-life batteries recovery, and recycling.

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On the first day of InterBattery 2023, SK On welcomed Liesje Schreinemacher, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands at the company’s exhibition hall. During her visit, Minister Schreinemacher showed great interest in SK On’s technologies related to the entire life cycle of batteries.

▲ Liesje Schreinemacher (first from right in the right photo), Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation of the Netherlands, visits SK On’s exhibition hall at InterBattery 2023 on March 15.

On the next day, March 16, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea Philip S. Goldberg also visited SK On’s exhibition hall to check the company’s products.

▲ Philip S. Goldberg (third from left in the left photo), U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea, tours around SK On’s exhibition hall at InterBattery 2023 on March 16.