Hyundai Motor Group Opens a Joint Battery Research Center at Seoul National University

Today, Hyundai Motor Group (the Group) announced the inauguration of its Joint Battery Research Center with Seoul National University (SNU). This collaborative effort between the Group and SNU aims to advance battery technologies and foster industry-academia cooperation to establish global leadership in the battery field.

The opening ceremony of the Joint Battery Research Center took place at Seoul National University’s main campus and was attended by esteemed guests, including Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group; Yong Wha Kim, President and Chief Technology Officer of Hyundai Motor Group; Heung Soo Kim, Executive Vice President and Head of Global Strategy Office of Hyundai Motor Group; and Chang Hwan Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Battery Development Center of Hyundai Motor Group.

From Seoul National University, Hong Lim Ryu, President of Seoul National University; Yoo Suk Hong, Dean of Seoul National University College of Engineering; Seung Hwan Ko, Associate Dean of Research Affairs of the College of Engineering; Jong Chan Lee, Head of the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering; and Jang Wook Choi, Head of the Joint Battery Research Center and Professor at the School of Chemical and Biological Engineering attended the inauguration ceremony.

Speaking in a congratulatory speech at the event, Hong Lim Ryu, President of Seoul National University, said: “The Joint Battery Research Center will be the starting point for battery technology with improved performance and robust safety in line with Hyundai Motor Group’s preemptive innovation in the field of electrification. We expect that the best faculty and graduate students will create synergy with Hyundai Motor Group’s competent researchers, laying the groundwork for various innovations ranging from the basics of batteries to applications.”

Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung highlighted, “Our mission to develop a diverse range of mobility solutions equipped with advanced batteries is driven by our strong commitment to a sustainable environment for future generations. Through pioneering joint research and development efforts, we hope to empower all researchers to lead the way in propelling the transition to electrification of the mobility industry.”

The Joint Battery Research Center began to take shape in November 2021, when the Group and Seoul National University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the ‘establishment of a joint battery research centre and mid- to long-term joint research’ based on the consensus on realising carbon neutrality and creating a battery research ecosystem.

To foster close cooperation among researchers, the new facility will secure a dedicated space for battery-only research within the expanded Institute of Chemical Processes of Seoul National University, spanning three floors (901 m²). It will have seven laboratories and conference rooms for battery development, analysis, measurement, and process. This is the first time a research facility specialising in electric vehicle (EV) batteries has been built within Seoul National University.

With the opening of the Joint Battery Research Center, the Group will work with top battery experts in Korea to lay the groundwork for research and development of battery-related technologies. The Joint Battery Research Center aims to focus on advanced research into leading next-generation battery technologies that can dramatically increase EV driving distance and shorten charging time, as well as research on battery condition monitoring technology and innovative process technology.

Specifically, 22 joint research projects will be carried out in four divisions, including lithium metal batteries, solid-state batteries, battery management systems (BMS) and battery process technology. A total of 21 professors and master’s and doctorate-level talents from eminent Korean universities will participate in the research. 14 22 research projects will be related to lithium metal and solid-state batteries, focusing their core capabilities on developing next-generation batteries.

The research will be conducted on high-durability lithium-electrolyte material element technology and shape analysis to minimise deterioration in lithium metal batteries. In contrast, in solid-state batteries, research will be shown on sulfide-based anode materials, electrode/electrolyte coating methods and ultra-high energy density cathode active materials.

A vital feature of the Joint Research Battery Center will be its focus on theoretical research, research, and development considering mass production. In the case of general industry-academia research, additional time and cost are inevitable to apply the results to mass-produced products.

To that end, the Joint Battery Research Center has the same level of research infrastructure as the state-of-the-art equipment applied to the Hyundai Motor and Kia R&D centres, such as precision battery analysis equipment, high-precision rheometers, cell manufacturing equipment, and impedance measuring devices, so that the university’s research results can be quickly applied to products.

Furthermore, the Group has appointed Professor Jang Wook Choi, an esteemed expert in battery science, as the head of the Joint Battery Research Center. Professor Choi will oversee the overall research projects and management of technology development.

The Group will have a fully-fledged support system to help the Joint Battery Research Center secure capabilities to develop next-generation batteries that lead the industry. The Group will invest over KRW 30 billion by 2030 to support the centre’s smooth research activities. The investment includes the establishment of the centre and the preparation of experimental equipment.

In addition, researchers from Hyundai Motor and Kia will be dispatched to the centre to participate as members of the joint research team, maximising research synergy through close communication and sharing of expertise. Through consultations and seminars on battery technology, insights and development directions will be discussed alongside a consultative body that will be formed regularly to share information on global battery industry trends and results.

Above all, the Group expects to pave the way for South Korea to become one of the world’s leading battery technology houses by fostering outstanding talent in the battery sector.  Meanwhile, the Group is also actively promoting next-generation talent by operating various industry-academic cooperation programs in collaboration with eminent universities in Korea.

Hyundai Motor Group accelerates development of next-generation batteries, including solid-state, aiming to produce 3.64 million EVs by 2030

Hyundai Motor Group recently announced through Hyundai Motor’s CEO Investor Day that it plans to secure global top-tier leadership by producing a total of 3.64 million EVs by 2030.

Based on its long-standing experience developing and mass-producing EVs, the Group seeks to secure bold investment and development capabilities in the critical battery sector. In particular, the Group plans to encompass all battery areas by stabilising material supply, strengthening battery design and management capabilities and developing next-generation batteries.

Hyundai Motor will invest KRW 9.5 trillion over the next ten years to improve battery performance, develop advanced technologies for next-generation batteries, and build infrastructure.

Compared to 2018 prices, the cost of batteries will be lowered by 75 per cent in 2026 and 45 per cent in 2030 to enhance the affordability and practicality of EVs. Around 2025, lithium ferro phosphate (LFP) batteries, jointly developed with battery companies, will be applied to new EVs for the first time.

To accelerate the development of lithium metal and solid-state batteries and verify their mass production capabilities, Hyundai Motor and Kia’s Uiwang Research & Development Center will complete the construction of the Next-generation Battery Research Building next year. The batteries developed in the new building will be used for various mobilities beyond EVs, such as robotics and advanced air mobility (AAM).

The Group also focuses on securing battery management capabilities to optimise EV performance. The Group will push to implement EVs with longer driving ranges, longer life cycles, and safety by upgrading battery management systems (BMS) and battery conditioning technologies, such as battery preheating and cooling.

In the mid-to-long term, the Group will additionally establish a system to recycle waste batteries and recycle raw materials to protect the environment and secure sustainable raw materials. The Group plans to complete a sustainable ‘battery life cycle’ in which batteries are safely recovered, and raw materials are extracted and reused for battery manufacturing.

The Group is steadily expanding external cooperation to secure battery capabilities by establishing joint ventures with significant battery companies, such as SK On and LG Energy Solution, to ensure a stable supply and demand of batteries.

Working with companies, such as Solid Power in the U.S., to secure solid-state battery elements and process technologies; Solid Energy System (SES) to develop lithium metal batteries; the Group continues to conduct joint research with startups and invest stakes for next-generation battery developments. The opening of the Joint Battery Research Center is an extension of the Group’s continued efforts to cooperate openly to benefit all.

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