Recognized for Technical Excellence and Sustainability
Prototype Unveiled at 'InterBattery 2023'
SK On announced on the 21st that it won the bronze award in the 'Smart Transportation' category at the United States' most prestigious invention award, the 'Edison Awards 2024,' for its cobalt-free (Co-Free) battery.
SK On stated, "Following last year's bronze award for the NCM9 battery at the Edison Awards, we have won again this year," adding, "SK On is the only global battery company to have won the Edison Awards and to have won for two consecutive years."
On the 18th (local time), at the '2024 Edison Awards' ceremony held at the Calusa Sound Convention Center in Florida, USA, Kim Sang-jin, Head of Platform Research at SK On (right), and Rob Mains, Vice President of Business Development at Edison Universe, are taking a commemorative photo. Photo by SK On
SK On's cobalt-free battery is a product that removes cobalt from the existing ternary (NCM, nickel-cobalt-manganese) battery.
The Edison Universe Foundation highly evaluated SK On's cobalt-free battery in terms of technological excellence and sustainability.
SK On began developing the cobalt-free battery to fundamentally block issues such as child labor exploitation and environmental pollution occurring during cobalt mining. Multinational automobile, battery, and raw material companies are continuously announcing alternatives for eco-friendly and ethical cobalt mining to reduce dependence on cobalt.
Generally, the absence of cobalt causes structural instability leading to reduced lifespan. SK On solved this by utilizing single-crystal cathode materials and proprietary doping technology. Based on its unique high-nickel technology and high-voltage cell design know-how, it increased energy density.
Price competitiveness is also high. Cobalt is the most expensive material among ternary battery components. SK On uses nickel or manganese instead of cobalt.
SK On showcased a prototype at 'InterBattery 2023' held at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul last year, hinting at the commercialization potential of the cobalt-free battery.
Kim Sang-jin, head of SK On's platform research, said, "SK On's relentless innovation and efforts to build a sustainable battery ecosystem have been recognized on the global stage," adding, "We will continue to develop differentiated products while creating social value."
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