Record Largest Scale with 462 Companies Participating Including the Three Battery Giants
Major battery companies such as LG Energy Solution, SK On, and Samsung SDI will participate in 'InterBattery 2023,' held for three days from the 15th at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
InterBattery is the largest battery industry exhibition in Korea, marking its 11th edition this year. It is hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and organized by the Korea Battery Industry Association. This year, 462 companies with 1,359 booths are participating, making it the largest scale ever.
At the one-on-one export consultation meeting, 62 buyers from 23 countries with cooperation demands in various fields such as battery cells, components, inspection equipment, and energy storage systems (ESS) will hold consultations with domestic companies. Additionally, the battery overseas market trend seminar held on the 15th will invite local experts from countries including the United States, Europe, Australia, Vietnam, and India to provide an opportunity to understand the global market status of the battery industry and regional business cooperation opportunities.
On the 17th, there will also be an opportunity to meet battery raw material suppliers. KOTRA plans to support Korean companies in diversifying their supply chains by discovering potential suppliers from countries rich in minerals such as Australia and Chile.
LG Energy Solution Introduces Bendable Batteries and New LFP
LG Energy Solution will showcase next-generation battery and material/process innovation technologies under the theme of "A Global Leader Presenting a Sustainable Future Life with Innovative Battery Technology."
They will introduce electric vehicles and new battery service businesses not yet launched domestically. Visitors to the LG Energy Solution booth can see Ford's Mustang Mach-E and Lucid Air, a premium sedan from the U.S. electric vehicle company Lucid Motors. These electric vehicles are equipped with LG Energy Solution batteries. Also on display are the battery swapping station (BSS) being commercialized by the in-house independent company KooRoo and LFP battery cells.
KooRoo, LG Energy Solution’s in-house independent company launched in October last year, will present the battery swapping station (BSS). BSS is a service that allows electric two-wheelers to use battery packs by swapping instead of charging, aiming for commercialization this year. The comprehensive electric vehicle battery diagnostic service B-LifeCare, which provides customized services such as battery remaining life and optimal driving routes for each vehicle, will also be demonstrated.
LG Energy Solution will showcase lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells for the first time at a domestic exhibition. Power grid and residential products equipped with these cells will also be exhibited. LFP batteries have advantages such as being cheaper and safer than NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) batteries. Additionally, freely bendable preform batteries and curved batteries used in virtual reality (VR) goggles will be introduced.
SK On Diversifies Form Factors and Models... Also Produces Prismatic and LFP Batteries
SK On will unveil a physical model of a prismatic battery for the first time. Having previously produced only pouch-type batteries, SK On plans to meet diverse demands from automakers and enhance competitiveness by developing various form factors (classified by shape).
SK On has completed the development of a prismatic prototype and plans to start prototype production within this year. The prismatic battery is characterized by fast charging speed.
At CES 2023, the world's largest home appliance and IT exhibition held earlier this year, SK On’s rapid charging battery won the Best Innovation Award, capable of charging up to 80% in 18 minutes. The company stated that the prismatic battery charges even faster than this.
They will also unveil cobalt-free (Co-Free) batteries that completely exclude cobalt and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. SK On developed the cobalt-free battery ahead of schedule by more than a year. Typically, ternary batteries have shorter lifespans without cobalt due to structural instability, but SK On has resolved this issue.
By applying high-nickel technology, SK On improved the energy density problem of cobalt-free batteries, securing driving range. A prototype of the LFP battery will also be displayed. While LFP batteries typically see driving range drop to 50-70% of normal levels in temperatures below minus 20 degrees Celsius, SK On raised this to 70-80%. They will also showcase a next-generation all-solid-state battery under development.
Samsung Showcases 'Super-Gap' Fast Charging and All-Solid-State Technology
Samsung SDI will expand its lineup under the battery brand 'PRiMX' and demonstrate its 'super-gap' technological prowess.
Samsung SDI’s booth will be organized around the ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) and Core Technology zones at the center, featuring prismatic, cylindrical, pouch, and button batteries, as well as major applications equipped with these batteries such as electric vehicles, IT & wearable devices, power tools, and ESS (energy storage systems).
Visitors can explore Samsung SDI’s differentiated technological competitiveness as a leading battery company, including its stacking method (layering battery materials), fast-charging material technology, and all-solid-state batteries.
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