■ Signed an MOU to achieve ‘super gap’ quality for the safety of lithium secondary batteries at the SK Seorin Building in Seoul on November 4, 2021

– Committed to developing innovative methods of evaluation and safety technology in the fields of battery performance, reliability, safety, and more

– Internal quality tests surpassed the standards to depict a severe real world driving environment

■ Also committed to jointly respond to international battery standards, contributing to the industry’s development by allowing reliable assessment

■ “Make sure that SK On’s batteries will be considered as a ‘measure of quality when choosing safe electric vehicles,” said CEO of SK On Jee Dong-seob.

On November 4, 2021, SK On and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) signed an MOU to create a lithium-ion battery safety-maximizing technology and related standards.

KERI is a government-funded research institute under the Ministry of Science and ICT that conducts power machinery testing and certification and engages in a variety of electricity-related technologies R&D.

President of KERI Myung Sung-ho, CEO of SK On Jee Dong-seob, and others were present at the ceremony held in SK Seorin Building in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The MOU outlines the two organizations’ collaboration in creating technologies to produce considerably more advanced batteries by conducting rigorous tests and research in the areas of ▲battery performance, ▲reliability, ▲ safety, and others.

The relationship between SK On and KERI stems from SK On’s aspiration to develop ‘super gap’ competencies in battery safety, allowing consumers to trust and use its batteries.

SK On boasts unrivaled safety technology, as evidenced by the fact that not a single fire accident has happened in the company’s 150 million battery cell deliveries to date. The products’ great performance generated demands from major global carmakers based on such a spectacular safety feature. The company has secured 1,600 GWh (Giga Watt hour) order backlogs, which represent the number of battery cells to be supplied. It is equivalent to around KRW 220 trillion, making the business the undisputed global leader in the battery industry.

Both parties will first devise a new evaluation method to pin down which conditions are conducive to certain types of fires. For example, in order to analyze the fire caused by foreign substances in battery cells, it is necessary to study ignition conditions by assuming severe environments that can be applied to the actual service environment and figure out varying ignition conditions depending on the types and quantity of foreign substances. Test values derived from this method will then be used to build ‘super gap’ technology to prevent fires.

In collaboration with KERI, SK On intends to enhance the internal quality evaluation criteria well beyond what is currently required. The company will set stringent battery quality test requirements in view of actual events that may occur while driving an electric car, taking into account varied EV driving situations.

A standard thermal shock endurance test, for example, that assesses a battery’s tolerance to heat, would be transformed into a sophisticated stress test by simultaneously adding external impact. It makes it obvious that the company is concerned with more than just meeting established international standards; it also considers all potential driving situations. In so doing, SK On hopes to create a distinct brand value that gives customers conviction to choose its products without hesitation or anxiety.

The two also agreed to work together to address future areas of improvement regarding international battery standards. They will propose ideas that appropriately reflect the gist of evaluations that global standards are aiming for and result in precise conclusions, ultimately advancing the electric car and battery industries.

“We will create an unrivaled super gap in terms of safety, allowing SK On batteries to be recognized as a new ‘measure of quality’ for customers looking for safe and outstanding electric vehicles, while also contributing to the development of the global battery industry and the growth of the electric vehicle industry,” said SK On CEO Jee Dong-seob.

[Photos] Representatives of SK On and Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute take commemorative photos after the MOU signing ceremoney held on November 4, 2021 at SK Seorin Building in Seoul, Korea

(Photo 1, 2) CEO of SK On Jee Dong-seob (left) and President of KERI Myung Sung-ho

(Photo 3) (From left) Leader of SK On’s Quality Planning Unit Choi Yoon-seok, Head of SK On’s Battery Optimization Innovation Division Rhee Jong-han, CEO of SK On Jee Dong-seob, President of KERI Myung Sung-ho, Director of KERI’s Electrical Materials Research Division Lee Kun-woong, Director of KERI’s Next Generation Battery Research Center Eom Seung-wook