Latest news with #ParkKi-soo
Korea Herald
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
SK On rebrands R&D arm to boost battery innovation
South Korean battery-maker SK On has renamed its core research and development center the "Future Technology Research Institute," strengthening its commitment to innovation-led growth and next-generation battery technologies. The institute, previously the SK On Battery Research Institute, has played a central role in the company's battery development since its early days, including the world's first NCM9 cell with 90 percent nickel content as well as the introduction of Z-folding technology. The newly branded institute will focus on diversifying battery chemistries and formats — including solid-state batteries, lithium iron phosphate batteries and prismatic designs — while prioritizing cost competitiveness and product safety as short-term goals. To reduce costs, SK On will advance its cell-to-pack integration and plans to complete lithium iron phosphate and midnickel cell-to-pack development by this year. A pilot dry electrode plant will also be established to cut energy and equipment costs. For safety, the company aims to complete solid-state battery prototypes using polymer-oxide gel electrolytes and complete production by the end of next year. The institute will also develop immersion cooling-based thermal runaway prevention technologies, with progress expected to accelerate following its planned merger with SK Innovation's lubricant subsidiary SK Enmove in November. 'With global competition intensifying and market conditions changing fast, we will grow SK On into a technology-driven company through a clear R&D strategy,' said Park Ki-soo, inaugural head of the institute and former head of R&D at SK On.
Korea Herald
05-03-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
SK On completes prismatic, 46-pi battery development
Battery maker in talks with auto brands to secure orders for newest products SK On has completed the development of prismatic and 46-pi cylindrical battery cells, the Korean battery maker's head of research and development division said Wednesday. 'We are trying our best to speed up the process of mass production for (the prismatic batteries) right now,' Park Ki-soo, head of SK On's R&D division, told reporters at the 2025 InterBattery exhibition at Coex in Seoul. 'We are in talks with clients to secure orders but mass production must be carried out in steps with their automotive market situation, so we are going to align with their timeline.' Park added that SK On has completed developing 46-pi cylindrical battery cells despite being the last among Korean battery makers to join the race for the development and mass production of the cells. 'We are making various form factors with different heights,' he said. 'The development (of 46-pi cylindrical battery cells) is complete, but we are in the process of developing distinguished technology regarding production to bolster mass production capabilities.' SK On's R&D chief also shared that the company expects development of its 'immersion cooling technology' to be complete in approximately two years. The thermal management solution cools heat-generating components by directly immersing them in thermal fluids. SK On's immersion cooling technology is being co-developed with SK Enmove, a sister company under SK Innovation, and features a structure tailored to support fast charging with an ability to curb thermal runways. '(As for the immersion cooling technology's application,) it's being developed for both (energy storage systems) and electric vehicles,' he said. Asked about a potential hike in the price of batteries equipped with the technology, Park mentioned that automakers can remove existing defensive materials loaded on the EV batteries to prevent thermal runways, as SK On's immersion cooling technology can replace them. 'As (automakers) remove such materials, we believe that the overall price (of the battery) will remain similar,' he said.
Korea Herald
03-03-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
SK On, SK Enmove to showcase fireproofing solution for EV batteries
SK On said Sunday that it will showcase an advanced thermal management solution for electric vehicle batteries with SK Enmove, its sister company under SK Innovation, at the upcoming battery exhibition in Seoul. The company's battery pack, currently under development with the lubricant supplier, features 'immersion cooling technology' that enhances cooling efficiency through an optimized fluid flow design, maximizing the contact area between thermal fluids and cells. Immersion cooling is a thermal management solution that effectively dissipates heat by circulating insulating thermal fluids within the battery pack. By directly interacting with the battery cells' surface, this method prevents temperature increases more efficiently than indirect cooling methods like air or liquid cooling and significantly reduces the risk of fires or explosions. SK On plans to leverage this technology in its wireless battery management system, or BMS. Unlike conventional BMS setups that require wiring harnesses and connectors, the company attached a wireless chip to the cell tabs, transmitting cell data via antennae embedded within the battery module. This innovation addresses the issue of wires in the traditional BMS that can disrupt the flow of thermal fluids and affect cooling performance. 'The wireless BMS, combined with immersion cooling technology, boasts a simple structure and high physical stability, reducing the risk of fluid leakage while improving its waterproof features,' stated SK On. In addition, the system can boost energy density with the extra space taken up by physical wires. The wireless device will likely enhance reliability as it eliminates defects in cables and connectors caused by vehicle vibrations. The wireless battery control system is also expected to accelerate the adoption of the 'Battery Passport.' Proposed by the Global Battery Alliance ― an international organization with over 170 governments and companies ― in 2020, the passport is a digital record providing comprehensive information about a battery's life cycle, including manufacturing details, history and recycling data. 'We anticipate a rising demand for wireless BMS and immersion cooling, driven by the increasing importance of safety as EV adoption accelerates,' said Park Ki-soo, head of SK On's R&D division. 'SK On will spearhead the battery safety solution industry and continue contributing to mobility electrification through technological innovation.' The InterBattery expo this year, held in Gangnam, Seoul from Wednesday to Friday, will feature major South Korean battery-makers LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On, along with China's BYD and EVE, which will be attending for the first time.
