[Korean Low-Cost Battery Is Coming]②"Korea Is Optimal for Manganese Battery Production... Targeting US Electric Vehicles"

Interview with Gong Bohyun, Executive Director of Ecopro BM
LMR Offers Higher Economic Value in Nickel and Lithium Recovery
Strengthening Supply Chain Through Joint R&D Among Affiliates

Gong Bohyun, Executive Director leading the development of lithium manganese rich (LMR) cathode materials at Ecopro BM, a battery materials company, asserted that "Korea has a structural advantage in LMR production." He emphasized that, in order for Korean battery companies to compete with Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, it is necessary to develop batteries with a high manganese content.

On the 24th of last month, Gong Bohyun, Executive Director of Development at Ecopro BM, was interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the Ecopro BM headquarters in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Ecopro

LMR Can Use Existing Ternary Lines... Enables Use of Low-Cost Raw Materials

During an interview at the Ecopro BM headquarters in Cheongju, Chungbuk on the 24th of last month, Executive Director Gong stated, "To compete with China in batteries, producing LFP would require building new factories, but LMR can be manufactured using existing ternary production lines, which is advantageous for Korean companies."

Ecopro BM is accelerating the commercialization of LMR cathode materials as a Korean alternative to the influx of Chinese LFP batteries. In particular, by collaborating within the group to localize precursor production, the company is strengthening its supply chain competitiveness and targeting global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).

Executive Director Gong explained, "Instead of lithium hydroxide, we can use the much cheaper lithium carbonate. In addition, the proportion of inexpensive manganese is much higher than that of nickel, so there is a significant advantage in terms of price competitiveness." He also pointed out, "Iron and phosphorus recovered from LFP batteries have low economic value, making recycling less profitable." On the other hand, LMR cathode materials contain nickel and a high content of lithium, so their economic recovery value is high, making them advantageous for recycling.

On the 24th of last month, Gong Bohyun, Executive Director of Development at Ecopro BM, was interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the Ecopro BM headquarters in Cheongju, Chungbuk. Ecopro

Ecopro BM began developing LMR in 2019. Despite the advantages of high energy density and low-cost raw materials, the main obstacle to mass production was the generation of gas and electrolyte decomposition under high-voltage conditions. Executive Director Gong said, "Theoretically, LMR offers high capacity at a low price, so the industry has long expected it would eventually be adopted. However, in the early stages, there were issues such as significant gas generation and electrolyte decomposition during initial formation processes and high-voltage operation," adding, "After years of research, many of these problems have now been resolved, and we have established conditions for stable production."

He highlighted the market potential by noting that American automakers are paying attention to LMR. Executive Director Gong referenced the Donald Trump administration's policy of excluding Chinese batteries, explaining, "The United States has chosen LMR over LFP to reduce its dependence on China."

High Dependence on Chinese Precursors... Goal to Complete In-House Supply Chain

Currently, domestic cathode material companies import Chinese precursors to produce LMR cathode materials. For products destined for North America, Ecopro BM is working closely not only with existing precursor suppliers but also with its affiliate, Ecopro Materials, to build a precursor value chain and minimize the risk associated with prohibited foreign entities (PFEs).

Ecopro BM will also participate in a new national project for high-manganese cathode material research and development, which the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy is expected to announce early next year. Executive Director Gong stated, "Although the detailed announcement has not yet been made, we are discussing collaboration with research institutes and others. We believe we will be able to mass-produce LMR materials more quickly and safely than anyone else in Korea."