Latest news with #SKEnmove
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.
Korea Herald
12-02-2025
- Automotive
- Korea Herald
SK Enmove's next-gen EV refrigerants achieve US certification
SK Enmove said Wednesday its next-generation refrigerants for electric vehicles have received certification from the US amid its push for global expansion in the all-important clean mobility market. The company's two types of refrigerants, key materials used in automobiles to absorb or release heat, were granted the R-Number certification by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, which recognized their high level of safety, efficiency and overall performance. The newly certified refrigerants are specifically developed for EVs, which require dual-purpose refrigerants for both heating and cooling, as they do not produce waste heat that warms up the car like internal combustion engine vehicles. Nonetheless, these products are also compatible with gas-powered cars. SK Enmove has so far obtained R-Number certification for three products, including one certified in June last year. This accomplishment is attributed to a strategic partnership forged with Hyundai Motor Group last year, aimed at developing next-generation automotive refrigerants that improve heating and cooling performance by over 30 percent. In an in-house evaluation, the company reported that these refrigerants increased the efficiency of heat pumps, which vaporize the materials to control the temperature of EVs, thereby improving energy consumption efficiency. SK Enmove stressed that its refrigerant products comply with stringent global environmental regulations -- including the US initiative to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons and the EU's proposed regulations on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances -- both of which are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 'This achievement reflects over a decade of expertise in thermal management research and development, including advancements in EV fluids and immersion cooling thermal fluids,' stated SK Enmove CEO Kim Wone-kee. 'We will continue to enhance our thermal management capabilities to position SK Enmove as a global leader in global refrigerant markets and an 'energy saving company.''
