SK Innovation commences production of batteries with more nickel
2017-09-05 13:38:20 [Print]
BEIJING (Asian Metal) 5 Sep 17 - South Korea’s SK Innovation disclosed recently that it has started commercial production of lithium-ion batteries with an increased portion of nickel, while reducing the usage of expensive components such as cobalt to extend battery life and cut costs.
In view of rising cobalt prices, Asian battery makers have been trying to develop new lithium-ion batteries with a higher proportion of nickel for use in electric cars.
Typically, nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries employ a ratio of 60 percent nickel to 20 percent manganese and 20 percent cobalt.
SK Innovation, which owns South Korea’s top refiner SK Energy, last Thursday said it started the production of mid- and large-sized batteries composed of 80% nickel, 10% cobalt and 10% manganese. The batteries will be used in energy storage from December this year, and in electric vehicles from the third quarter of next year.
According to Lee Jon-ha, principal researcher of the company’s battery R&D center, the batteries will help extend a driving range of electric vehicles up to 500 kms, and they will also develop new batteries by 2020 that can provide a range of more than 700 kms.
SK Innovation said it plans to boost its battery production to 10 gigawatt hours by 2020 and secure 30 percent of global market share for electric vehicle batteries by 2025.
In view of rising cobalt prices, Asian battery makers have been trying to develop new lithium-ion batteries with a higher proportion of nickel for use in electric cars.
Typically, nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) lithium-ion batteries employ a ratio of 60 percent nickel to 20 percent manganese and 20 percent cobalt.
SK Innovation, which owns South Korea’s top refiner SK Energy, last Thursday said it started the production of mid- and large-sized batteries composed of 80% nickel, 10% cobalt and 10% manganese. The batteries will be used in energy storage from December this year, and in electric vehicles from the third quarter of next year.
According to Lee Jon-ha, principal researcher of the company’s battery R&D center, the batteries will help extend a driving range of electric vehicles up to 500 kms, and they will also develop new batteries by 2020 that can provide a range of more than 700 kms.
SK Innovation said it plans to boost its battery production to 10 gigawatt hours by 2020 and secure 30 percent of global market share for electric vehicle batteries by 2025.
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