SK On's breakthrough all-solid-state EV batteries will arrive ahead of schedule

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The next generation of electric vehicle batteries will be here sooner than expected. After opening the first-of-its-kind pilot plant for its all-solid-state EV batteries this week, SK On said it plans to bring the breakthrough battery tech to market ahead of schedule.

SK On’s all-solid-state EV batteries will be here in 2029

If you haven’t heard it by now, all-solid-state EV batteries are viewed as a potential game-changer, promising to unlock longer driving range, faster charging times, and better overall performance than the lithium-ion batteries used today.

Although the new battery tech shows promise, producing it on a large scale has not been so easy. That could soon change, according to leading global battery maker SK On.

After opening its new pilot plant in South Korea on September 15, SK On said it will bring all-solid-state EV batteries to market a year ahead of schedule.

SK On now plans to commercialize its ASSBs by 2029. Initially, the company aims to launch the batteries with an energy density of 800 Wh/L. Looking further out, SK On said it plans to offer all-solid-state batteries with an energy density of 1,000 Wh/L.

During the opening ceremony, SK ON’s CEO, Seok-hee Lee, said, “This pilot plant will serve as a cornerstone for SK to leap forward,” adding the company remains “at the forefront of commercializing all-solid-state batteries.”

SK On said the 4,600-square-meter (50,000 sq ft) facility utilizes its own unique “Warm Isostatic Press (WIP)-free” process, the first to employ this technology in Korea.

By applying pressure to electrodes at higher temperatures, SK On said its WIP process improves density and performance.

A WIP tech is a process that applies pressure to electrodes at higher temperatures to improve density and performance. However, since it requires a cell-sealing process, it isn’t easy to produce at a mass scale.

SK On said its unique cell design addresses the issue while reducing resistance within the electrodes. The company also improved the bonding between electrodes and solid electrolytes, resulting in “smoother ion transport, more stable charging and discharging, and longer cycle life.”

The all-solid-state pilot plant is located at the SK On Institute of Future Technology in Daejeon, which is about 150 km from Seoul. Several high-profile executives attended the event, including Andrea Maier, Head of Solid Power Korea. SK On and Solid Power teamed up last year to accelerate the promising new battery tech.

SK On will build prototypes at the facility to test quality and performance ahead of mass-scale production. The new pilot line will mainly be used to develop all-solid-state batteries, but SK said it will dedicate some lines to lithium-metal batteries as well.

The battery giant filed patents for its unique new technology in South Korea and internationally. SK On is one of the many battery manufacturers, automakers, and other startups chasing the “holy grail” of EV batteries.

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen, Toyota, and Nissan, to name a few, are developing solid-state EV technology. Leading battery makers, including CATL, BYD, and LG Energy Solutions, are also planning to bring the new tech to market.

Just last week, Mercedes-Benz announced it drove a modified EQS, equipped with solid-state batteries, for 1,205 km (750 miles) on a single charge. And the EQS still had 85 miles of range remaining.

Which company will be the first to launch solid-state batteries on a mass scale? According to SAIC MG, the new MG4, launched last month, is “the world’s first mass-produced semi-solid-state” electric vehicle. It starts at just 99,800 yuan ($14,000) in China.