Intensive inspection of next-generation battery ‘Gen 5’ mass production
Driving range 600km, 80% charging in 20 minutes
Full preparation for BMW supply in the second half of the year
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Samsung SDI's battery production plant is located in Göd, a city near the capital of Hungary, Budapest. The Göd plant is established by Samsung SDI to target the European electric vehicle market. It has become the largest production base for Samsung SDI with its 330,000 square meters (100,000 pyeong) size, its production capacity of more than 40 gigawatt hours (GWh.)In the second half of the year, Samsung SDI is planning on producing next-generation electric vehicle batteries at the plant that can drive 600 km on a single charge.
Younghyun Jun, president of Sansung SDI, made a surprise visit to the Göd plant in Hungary.According to the industry on the 24th, it is known that president Jun started on-site management for three days with executives related to the electric vehicle battery business.
It is unusual for Samsung SDI's top management to visit the Göd plant during the pandemic where overseas business trips are restricted due to COVID-19.It is reported that president Jun went on a business trip to encourage the local employees and to check the preparations for the next-generation battery 'Gen 5', which is soon to be mass-produced.
The Gen 5 is a strategic product that integrates Samsung SDI's latest technology.High nickel NCA (nickel, cobalt, aluminum) technology ,made up of 88% nickel, is applied, and the driving range is 600 km on a single charge.
It is evaluated that the battery capacity is maximized and the fast charing technology is possible due to increased nickel content, and and the mileage and safety have improved with using aluminum materials and special coating technology.
In particular, Samsung SDI introduced the 'stacking' method for the first time in its Gen 5 battery.
Stacking is a process that improve battery performance bypiling up anodes, cathodes, and separators, which are the main materials of a battery, in order to increase the internal space.
Samsung SDI is planning to mass-produce and supply Gen 5 batteries to BMW soon.Samsung SDI's next-generation batteries will be applied to the electric vehicles 'iX' and 'i4' models released by BMW in the fall.
BMW has been a strategic partner for research and development of electric vehicle batteries with Samsung SDI since 2009.President Younghyun Jun seems to have visited Hungary to assess the next-generation strategic battery business and expand its European business, which is emerging as the world's largest electric vehicle market.
A well-informed official of Samsung SDI said, "(Samsung SDI) is nurturing its Hungarian plant as a forward operating base, and I know that the top management came since mass production of next-generation batteries is imminent.”
In addition, it seems that president Jun reviewed future investment plans, such as expansion in Hungary. It is understood that the former president met with the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the local investment situation, current issues, and future investment strategies.
Europe is overtaking China, and emerging as the world's largest electric vehicle market. According to KOTRA, 1.4 million electric vehicles were sold in Europe last year, becoming the largest market in the world.As Europereduces its dependence on offshore production, battery and electric vehicle-related companies shifting their focus on entering and investing in Europe.
Samsung SDI is expected to speed up its entry into the European market as Samsung SDI suppliesGen 5 batteries produced at Göd plant in Hungary, not only to BMW, but also to Volkswagen and Audi.
Samsung SDI's Hungary branch recorded sales of 1.802.8 trillion won and net profit of 24.9 billion won last year, achieving the first annual surplus since the completion of the electric vehicle line in 2017.
Samsung SDI did not disclose president Younghyun Jun’s business trip to Hungary and said, "We cannot confirm the schedule of the management team.”
By Staff Reporter Gunil Yun and Jiwoong Kim
(benyun@etnews.com) (jw0316@etnews.com)