Dive Brief:
- Hyundai Motor Co. and Kia Corp. are collaborating to strengthen their position with emerging electric vehicle battery technology, according to a Sept. 26 press release.
- The automakers, in collaboration with Hyundai Steel and EcoPro BM, have embarked on a four-year project to develop lithium iron phosphate battery cathode material manufacturing technology in South Korea.
- In addition to lowering battery production costs, the venture aims to create LFP cathode material for fast-charging technology and improved discharging performance.
Dive Insight:
The partnership comes after both Hyundai Motor and Kia announced efforts to enhance batteries as part of their long-term EV strategies earlier this year.
The project aims to synthesize materials directly, reducing emissions during manufacturing. While the direct synthesis process is environmentally friendly and cost-competitive compared to conventional processes, the automakers said impurity-free and uniformly sized raw materials will lead to production efficiencies.
Hyundai Motor and Kia will work with Hyundai Steel to develop high-purity fine iron powder processing technology using domestically recycled iron. EcoPro BM will then use the technology to develop directly synthesized LFP battery cathode material using iron powder raw materials, the release continued.
Soonjoon Jung, VP and head of the Electrification and Driving Materials Development Group at Hyundai Motor and Kia, said rapid technological development and effective battery supply chain establishment are necessary to meet future EV demand.
“Through this project, we aim to reduce import reliance and enhance the technological competitiveness of the country and Hyundai Motor Group by internalizing necessary technologies,” Jung said in the release.
