SM Bexel, a manufacturing subsidiary of the SM Group, announced on September 11 that it is collaborating with a U.S.-based global automotive company to develop technologies for the design, production, and evaluation of cylindrical lithium batteries using lithium manganese rich (LMR) cathode materials. The project aims to establish a system for verifying the performance of new materials.
The core of this project is to apply LMR in actual batteries to validate its performance and applicability. SM Bexel will utilize its semi-mass production line for cylindrical batteries to carry out the entire process, including electrode design, battery production, formation tailored to material characteristics, and initial performance and reliability evaluations.
The U.S. automotive company will be responsible for designing cylindrical batteries considering LMR characteristics, optimizing manufacturing conditions, and analyzing performance changes due to material modifications. SM Bexel will review electrode design conditions, manufacture electrodes, apply semi-mass production assembly lines, and evaluate initial charge/discharge and electrochemical properties, while also accumulating data and establishing evaluation criteria for the new materials.
Based on this collaboration, the two companies have established a system that connects 'material development → battery design → battery production → performance evaluation → result analysis → design improvement.' This approach allows for comprehensive verification of key performance metrics such as capacity, output, lifespan, and stability in actual cells, rather than just evaluating the material properties.
Through this project, SM Bexel has significantly enhanced its capabilities in full-cycle development, linking electrode design, manufacturing process conditions, battery production, and performance evaluation based on LMR characteristics. The evaluation technology acquired can also be applied to verify the practical applicability of various cathode materials, including high-nickel cathodes and LFP/LMFP, as well as new battery materials such as silicon-based anodes, electrolytes, and additives. In the future, the company plans to expand the application range to various sizes and specifications of cylindrical battery platforms based on customer requirements.
Choi Se-hwan, CEO of SM Bexel's battery division, stated, 'This project signifies that SM Bexel has advanced its battery material, electrode, and battery design and manufacturing technologies in line with the actual development requirements of global automakers. We will strengthen our capabilities for the practical application and performance verification of various next-generation battery materials and expand technological collaboration with global automakers, battery, and material companies.'
Meanwhile, SM Bexel has expanded its secondary battery business by establishing a battery pack solution team within its technology research institute in July, focusing on developing high-performance battery packs and battery management systems (BMS) for applications in industrial drones and humanoid robots.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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