[Interview] Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Director of Hyundai Motor, "Solid-State Battery Electric Vehicles Will Demonstrate Superior Competitiveness"

Interview with Kim Chang-hwan, Head of Electrification Energy Solutions at Hyundai Motor and Kia
Accelerating Plans to Develop the 'Dream Battery' Solid-State Battery
Expected to Equip Electric Vehicles Around 2028
Ambition to Launch Solid-State EV Earlier Than Toyota
Concurrent Development of Lithium Metal Batteries to Replace Graphite Anodes

"Has Hyundai Motor Group ever said that their goal for developing all-solid-state batteries is 2030? That’s too slow (laughs)."

Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Vice President in charge of Electrification Energy Solutions overseeing Hyundai Motor and Kia’s battery development strategy, responded this way on the 27th in an interview with Asia Economy when asked if he understood that they are developing all-solid-state batteries with a target of 2030.

Until now, the industry has known that Hyundai Motor set the introduction timing of the so-called "dream battery," the all-solid-state battery, for 2030, but his remarks suggest advancing that goal by about two years. EVP Kim even presented an ambitious goal to be the first in the global automotive industry to launch an electric vehicle equipped with an all-solid-state battery.

Hyundai Motor Group established the Electrification Energy Solutions division overseeing the Battery Development Center and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Development Center at the end of March and appointed EVP Kim to lead it. This is the first time the head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s battery development has appeared in a media interview.

Kim Chang-hwan, Executive Vice President in charge of Electrification Solutions at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia [Photo by Hyundai Motor Company]

All-solid-state batteries are next-generation batteries that pose no fire risk and can travel over 1000 km on a single charge. Unlike lithium-ion batteries, they use solid materials, offering higher safety and energy density. Currently, not only battery manufacturers but also automakers are intensively developing batteries. The company that succeeds first in development is expected to dominate the future electric vehicle market.

He said, "Many companies have announced plans to launch all-solid-state battery electric vehicles around 2028," and emphasized, "Hyundai Motor and Kia are concentrating all capabilities and resources to be the first in the industry to introduce electric vehicles equipped with all-solid-state batteries that secure safety and durability."

This is interpreted as Hyundai aiming to release electric vehicles equipped with all-solid-state batteries ahead of Toyota, which is currently regarded as having the most advanced technology in this field. Toyota has postponed its development and mass production plans several times, pushing its target launch date to 2027?2028. From Hyundai’s perspective, this is an opportunity to challenge the goal of being the "world’s first."

Hyundai Motor has been pursuing in-house development of all-solid-state batteries for several years. In 2020, it established a specialized battery development organization at the Namyang Research Center, and last year, it set up a joint battery research center with Seoul National University to advance the project. Recently, it has also increased related patent filings overseas. It filed a patent for a foldable all-solid-state battery in the United States and jointly filed a patent with Samsung SDI in China for a manufacturing method of solid electrolytes with excellent humidity safety.

EVP Kim also mentioned the importance of lithium-metal batteries as part of the all-solid-state battery development continuum. Lithium-metal batteries use lithium metal instead of graphite as the anode material. Compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries, they have higher energy density (longer driving range), are lighter, and charge faster. Using lithium instead of graphite in the anode can reduce dependence on Chinese critical minerals. Last year, the U.S. government ordered the exclusion of Chinese minerals from the battery supply chain, making the search for alternatives to graphite a major task for the electric vehicle industry.

The potential use of lithium-metal anodes in all-solid-state batteries is also viewed highly. EVP Kim emphasized, "The core of lithium-metal batteries is anode technology development," adding, "It is very important for realizing the high energy density of next-generation batteries, including all-solid-state batteries." Last month, Hyundai began joint development of B-samples (final stage before mass production) of vehicle lithium-metal batteries with U.S. battery company SES. By the end of this year, Hyundai plans to establish dedicated development, assembly, and test production facilities at its Uiwang Research Center. He stressed, "Lithium-metal batteries will be an important component of Hyundai Motor Group’s future technology portfolio."

When asked about the battery portfolio share of Hyundai Motor Group around 2030, he replied, "Lithium-ion batteries will still be the mainstream in 2030." EVP Kim predicted, "Next-generation batteries such as all-solid-state and lithium-metal will form initial markets with advantages of safety and ultra-high energy density, and as electric vehicle adoption increases worldwide, demand for low-cost batteries will also grow significantly."

He was elected as the first Korean president of the International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies (FISITA) and will begin a two-year term starting next year. EVP Kim said, "We will strengthen global cooperation systems that lead change and innovation."