Samsung is making significant progress in unveiling a very powerful battery in the EV market. The South Korean tech giant has showcased its new battery that offers up to 600 miles of range for just 9 minutes of charge. The battery was revealed at the SNE Battery Day 2024 expo in Seoul, South Korea. It says it has begun a pilot run for its solid-state battery line. The pilot line was built in 2023 to mass-produce all-solid-state batteries by 2027, according to the company.
The new Samsung EV battery has already been delivered to EV manufacturers for testing since the end of 2023. Samsung SDI, the specific arm of the tech giant says it is already receiving positive feedback on the battery. The batteries are capable of delivering a driving range of 600 miles (965km) for 9 minutes of charging. Samsung says the battery is designed to have a lifespan of 20 years.
The new Samsung solid-state battery comes lighter, smaller, and safer than lithium-ion batteries which are popularly deployed in EV vehicles. They can enhance safety by replacing the liquid components with solid ones. They take less space and are thus much lighter, holding lots of promise in the EV industry. Samsung says the new batteries will be limited to the super-premium segment of the EV space, highlighting their likely cost outlay. Samsung will also be introducing high-nickel NCS products for the high-end segment as well.
The energy density of Samsung’s solid-state battery is 500Wh/kg which is a massive leap above the current average of around 270Wh/kg. It is unclear what Samsung SDI refers to as 9-minute charging. However, this is unlikely to mean a full charge to be achieved in 9 minutes. Indeed, if the claim relates to quick charging (say from 20% to 80%), then the actual range of the battery could exceed 965km (600 miles). Samsung is also developing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and cobalt-free batteries that will be more affordable.