Samsung SDI: "To Handle the Electric Vehicle Supercycle, One Must Follow Both Big and Small Waves Well"

Hyunyoung Kwak Delivers Lecture at 'InterBattery'
"We Will Diversify Our Portfolio to Meet All Demands"

Hyunyoung Kwak, Executive Director and Head of the Medium and Large Marketing Team at Samsung SDI, emphasized that overcoming the electric vehicle chasm requires understanding purchase incentives from the 'consumer's perspective.'

On the morning of the 5th, Executive Director Kwak spoke as a presenter at 'The Battery Conference' held at COEX in Samseong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, delivering a lecture titled 'Business Strategies to Overcome the Chasm.' The Battery Conference is an event where global battery experts participate to provide insights and is held alongside 'InterBattery,' the largest battery exhibition in Korea. On this day, executives from the three major domestic battery companies (LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI, SK On), including Executive Director Kwak, participated simultaneously as speakers.

In his lecture, Executive Director Kwak stated, "Rather than calling the current situation a chasm, it can be said that individual consumers take considerable time to make a confident decision to purchase an electric vehicle amid a very complex buying process." He continued, "From the consumer's standpoint, emotional benefits such as 'being able to protect the Earth' by driving an electric vehicle and the privilege of enjoying advanced technology are purchase factors. However, on the flip side, there are risks such as needing to charge the vehicle, paying a higher price, and a lack of a lineup that fully satisfies their preferences."

Executive Director Kwak pointed out that even among consumers with similar income levels, decisions to purchase electric vehicles vary depending on lifestyle, highlighting the need for detailed consumer trend analysis. He argued that the motivations stimulating the electric vehicle market do not come in the form of a single large 'cycle' but rather arise from a combination of various factors. He said, "Looking more closely at the rapid growth of the electric vehicle market, it has grown unevenly month to month due to drivers such as policy changes or new model releases. A cycle can be understood as the sum of large and small waves."

He revealed that Samsung SDI has prepared to diversify its portfolio to encompass various demands based on this analysis. Executive Director Kwak said, "Our prismatic batteries allow for free adjustment of size and height to optimize energy density," adding, "We have expanded our lineup to include lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, mid-nickel, and 46-pi (46mm diameter cylindrical) batteries, which were showcased at InterBattery 2025."