The new battery from Samsung is particularly noteworthy because it has a 20-year lifespan and can store almost twice as much energy density per kilogramme as existing EV batteries—roughly 500 kW per kilogramme. With these batteries, electric vehicles (EVs) might cover up to 600 miles (965 km) between charges!
One more noteworthy characteristic is the extremely quick charging time. Although Samsung states that its new batteries can be fully charged in under nine minutes, this requires sophisticated infrastructure that can support charging at 480 kW to 600 kW. Samsung said during the SNE Battery Day 2024 event in Seoul, South Korea, that its test manufacturing line for solid-state electric vehicle batteries is currently up and running. According to Samsung SDI, “we built a pilot line last year to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries by 2027.”
EV manufacturers have already received the first batches of batteries for assessment. “From the end of last year to the beginning of this year, we provided samples to customers, and we are getting good feedback,” said Samsung SDI.
Samsung Battery Potential Benefits
The energy density of Samsung’s oxide solid-state battery technology is an astounding 500 Wh/kg, which is almost twice as high as the density of typical EV batteries (270 Wh/kg). The existing electric vehicle’s driving range might be doubled with this increased density. Since these solid-state batteries are anticipated to be safer, lighter, and more compact than the lithium-ion batteries that are now found in the majority of EVs, they have the potential to completely transform the electric vehicle (EV) market. With a 20-year lifespan, they can power electric vehicles with a 600-mile range and charge in just nine minutes.
However, the initial implementation of these batteries will be restricted to the “super premium” EV sector, which normally gives a driving range of approximately 600 miles per charge, due to their high production costs. Furthermore, Samsung is set to launch premium segment high-nickel NCS products.
In addition to working on solid-state batteries, Samsung is also creating cobalt-free and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries at a lower cost, as well as a dry electrode production technique. By 2026, Samsung SDI stated, “We will not only match prices in the popular and entry-level segments, but also mass produce products that can be rapidly charged in 9 minutes.” Despite Samsung’s noteworthy advancements in solid-state batteries, the business still has to contend with a Chinese-dominated market. A significant obstacle is the lack of high-speed charging infrastructure, even though some Chinese battery manufacturers now provide 5C or 6C charging speeds, which are comparable to 480kW and even 600kW charging stations.
Nonetheless, a noteworthy trend is the obvious effort taken by all battery manufacturers to provide longer battery lifespans, also known as “million-mile” batteries. The goal of Samsung to “extend the battery life to 20 years” is consistent with this general trend in the market.
