SK Innovation is set to begin pilot production at its Georgia electric vehicle battery plant in the first half of 2021 according to its schedule. Although there is confusion within the battery materials industry in South Korea as the lawsuit between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation is being prolonged, SK Innovation remains not too concerned. SK Innovation plans to make electric vehicle batteries according to release dates of new electric vehicles of Volkswagen and Ford.
According to the industry on December 27, SK Innovation is making necessary preparations to begin pilot production at its first Georgia electric vehicle battery plant in the first half next year. The company is currently building two plants in the United States that are able to make batteries for 200,000 electric vehicles annually.
Its first Georgia plant will make mid/large-sized pouch-type NCM811 batteries. The battery has 80% nickel content that greatly affects the battery’s energy density. The company’s NCM811 batteries will be used for Volkswagen’s electric SUV called “ID.4”.
The company will receive necessary battery materials according to its pilot production schedule. It is reported that SK Innovation and its partnering battery materials manufacturers have been in discussions about how they are going to work together during this entire process.
“Our first Georgia plant is 90% completed.” said a representative for SK Innovation. “We are expecting to receive battery materials in the first half next year and start conducting necessary tests for actual production.”

Photo Image
<Researchers from SK Innovation are holding the company’s battery cells.>

However, there is a growing level of confusion within the materials industry as the lawsuit between LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation is being prolonged and the United States International Trade Commission is expected to make a final decision on February 10 next year. It is reported that the industry sent an inquiry with complaining nature to SK Innovation’s group that is in charge of purchasing battery materials as the lawsuit continues to be prolonged.
Regarding the inquiry, a representative for SK Innovation stated that while it is true that there was an inquiry about supply of battery materials, the company does not expect any setback or issue related to supply of electric vehicle batteries as it is already working on a second plant.
The company broke ground for the second plant back in July. It plans to make NCM9½½ batteries that will be used for Ford’s electric truck from its second electric vehicle battery plant. It will begin production of NCM9½½ batteries, which have nickel content raised to 90%, in 2023.
The company held a board of directors meeting on December 18 and issued bonds that are worth $1 billion (1.1 trillion KRW) and will be used to prepare a fund to finish the construction of its second plant. Its plan is to use the resulting fund to order equipment necessary for production of batteries and begin commercial production in the first quarter of 2023.
A representative for the company said that construction of the two electric vehicle battery plants will proceed according to the company’s battery production schedule.
Staff Reporter Kim, Jiwoong | jw0316@etnews.com