Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Director at Hyundai Motor, "Important in Technology Portfolio"
U.S. lithium metal battery company SES AI (hereinafter SES) announced on the 24th that it will "establish a dedicated development, assembly, and testing facility for B-sample cells in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, starting from the end of this year in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia." SES will build and operate one of the world's largest capacity lithium metal lines at this facility.
On the same day, SES signed an agreement with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia to advance to the next stage beyond the existing Joint Development Agreement (JDA) for the development of lithium metal battery B-samples.
Lithium metal batteries refer to batteries that use lithium metal instead of graphite as the anode material in conventional lithium-ion batteries. They are suitable for lightweight and large-capacity batteries but have drawbacks such as the risk of dendrite formation, which can cause explosions, and a shorter lifespan compared to lithium-ion batteries.
Previously, SES announced its first B-sample JDA with another major automaker in December last year. In addition to these two B-sample lines, another A-sample line is being converted for urban air mobility (UAM) battery cell production.
Chi Chao Hu, founder and CEO of SES, said, "We are pleased to have the opportunity to further strengthen our long-standing partnership with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, the second largest automaker in the U.S. SES will continue to fulfill its promise to develop next-generation electric vehicle batteries that achieve energy density, manufacturability, and nearly 100% safety assurance by leveraging AI."
SES and Hyundai Motor Company and Kia have been collaborating since 2021 on various technologies, including lithium metal batteries for UAM and electric vehicle (EV) applications.
Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Vice President in charge of Electrification Energy Solutions at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia, stated, "SES's experience with lithium metal batteries will be a critical component of the technology portfolio in which Hyundai Motor Company and Kia are investing to develop the world's best product lineup and grow into carbon-neutral mobility solutions."
SES AI is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It has branches in Seoul and Shanghai, China, and has established a production facility in Chungju, North Chungcheong Province. It has received investments from Hyundai Motor Company, Kia, General Motors (GM) of the U.S., and Honda Motor Company of Japan.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
