A research initiative to develop lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cathode material was started by Hyundai Motor and Kia on September 25. This project intends to directly synthesize materials without producing a precursor for the synthesis of LFP battery cathode material. It is being carried out in partnership with Hyundai Steel and EcoPro BM, a market leader in cathode material. This four-year project is funded by the Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy as a component of the “LFP Battery Technology Development” effort.
Fast technological advancement and the building of an efficient battery supply chain are necessary to meet the market’s future demand for electric vehicles, according to Soonjoon Jung, vice president and head of Hyundai Motor and Kia’s electrification and driving materials development group. Our goals with this initiative are to increase technological competitiveness and lessen reliance on imports.
Traditionally, lithium has been added to precursor minerals like phosphate and iron sulfate to create LFP battery cathode materials. Phosphate, iron (Fe) powder, and lithium are added simultaneously in the direct synthesis method without the need to produce a separate precursor. This reduces emissions of hazardous substances during manufacture and lowers production costs by doing away with the precursor synthesis phase.
Comparing the direct synthesis procedure to other methods, it is less expensive and more ecologically friendly. However, ensuring that the raw materials are evenly proportioned and free of impurities is essential to increasing manufacturing efficiency.
Hyundai Motor and Kia will work with Hyundai Steel to create high-purity fine iron powder processing technologies using iron that is recycled domestically. Then, using iron powder as a raw material, EcoPro BM will apply this technique to manufacture directly synthesized LFP battery cathode material.
The goal is to create an LFP cathode material with high-level low-temperature charging and discharging performance and quick charging capabilities.
This partnership is important since it links the automobile, steel, and battery industries. Hyundai Motor and Kia want to lead the EV industry by merging technology in the field of LFP battery material.
As part of their long-term objectives, Hyundai and Kia both declared last year that they were actively working to improve the battery capabilities, performance, safety, and cost competitiveness of EVs.
