Korea pushes to develop high capacity secondary cells for electric cars

The government will jointly develop high capacity secondary cells for electric vehicles with the private sector to boost the local electric car industry, officials said Wednesday.

The Ministry of Trade Industry and Energy said it launched a large-scale project with the private sector to develop the high capacity batteries for electric vehicles that allow up to 400 kilometers of travel on a single charge.

The participants consist of 230 researchers from 27 private institutions, including conglomerates such as Hyundai Motor, LG Chem and material businesses such as W-Scope Korea.

With an aim of more than doubling the rechargeable cell’s energy density from 150 watt-hours per kilogram by 2020, the government and the private sector will jointly inject 43 billion won ($38.3 million), the officials said.

As of now, electric vehicle Ioniq Electric of Hyundai Motor offers the longest travel distance on a single charge with up to 191 kilometers.

“(The ministry) has put all the technology development work as one project since one company cannot handle all the relevant technology development. While the cell market has generally been led by Korea, China and Japan, it’s the first time that such a large-scale project is being pushed by the government,” said Kim Young-sam, who is in charge of system industry policies at the ministry.

The secondary cell market has recently expanded from small batteries to medium and large cells for electric vehicles.

According to the Korea Battery Industry Association, the industry of the medium and large secondary cells for electric cars are projected to rapidly expand with an annual growth rate of 34 percent by 2020.

The project will develop technology involving four major parts -- the anode, cathode, electrolyte and membrane, the ministry said.

This includes raising the nickel content of anode from 50 percent to 90 percent for the use of high voltage cells; improving the storage space of lithium ion by developing complex anode material with silicon and carbon; developing electrolyte that is durable in the high voltage; and reducing the thickness of membrane from 20 micrometers to 18 micrometers in order to cut the volume and weight.

Along with developing high capacity rechargeable batteries, the ministry will also propel the commercialization of the cells, it added.

By Lee Hyun-jeong  (rene@heraldcorp.com)