Samsung announce 900Wh/L All-Solid-State Battery Technology

Researchers from the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) and the Samsung R&D Institute Japan (SRJ) presented a study on high-performance, long-lasting all-solid-state batteries to Nature Energy, one of the world’s leading scientific journals.

Compared to widely used lithium-ion batteries, which utilize liquid electrolytes, all-solid-state batteries support greater energy density, which opens the door for larger capacities, and utilize solid electrolytes, which are demonstrably safer. However, the lithium metal anodes that are frequently used in all-solid-state batteries, are prone to trigger the growth of dendrites1 which can produce undesirable side effects that reduce a battery’s lifespan and safety.

To overcome those effects, Samsung’s researchers proposed utilizing, for the first time, a silver-carbon (Ag-C) composite layer as the anode. The team found that incorporating an Ag-C layer into a prototype pouch cell enabled the battery to support a larger capacity, a longer cycle life, and enhanced its overall safety. Measuring just 5µm (micrometers) thick, the ultrathin Ag-C nanocomposite layer allowed the team to reduce anode thickness and increase energy density up to 900Wh/L. It also enabled them to make their prototype approximately 50 percent smaller by volume than a conventional lithium-ion battery.

This promising research is expected to help drive the expansion of electric vehicles (EVs). The prototype pouch cell that the team developed would enable an EV to travel up to 800km on a single charge, and features a cycle life of over 1,000 charges.

As Dongmin Im, Master at SAIT’s Next Generation Battery Lab and the leader of the project explained, “The product of this study could be a seed technology for safer, high-performance batteries of the future. Going forward, we will continue to develop and refine all-solid-state battery materials and manufacturing technologies to help take EV battery innovation to the next level.”

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2017 BMW i3 to get 200 km (EPA) range, production starts July

BMW will boost the range of its i3 electric car by about half for the 2017 model year.

This summer, the lithium ion battery pack of the compact EV will be improved, "which puts it into a much more usable range," Ian Robertson, BMW AG board member for sales and marketing, told Automotive News at the Detroit auto show.

BMW doesn't have the exact figure yet, but a 50 percent increase means about 200 km on a single charge, up from the current 130 km (EPA).

The 2017 i3 will begin production in July of 2016 and will use Samsung 94 Ah battery cells. The 2017 i3 needs the increase in range to compete with the 2016 30 kWh Nissan Leaf with 250 km range and the upcoming Chevy Bolt, which will have a range of 300+ km.

The i3 went on sale in the U.S. in the spring of 2014 and has a base price of $43,350 including shipping. A model with a range extender is also available -- with about double the range -- and starts at $47,200 including shipping. Those prices are before tax credits.

BMW sold 24,057 i3s worldwide last year, an increase of 50 percent from 2014. In the United States, BMW sold 11,024 i3s, up from 6,092 in 2014. Nearly 60 percent of those were with the range extender.

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Samsung SDI to invest $1 Billion in EV Battery Gigafactory

In order to acquire the dominance and leadership in Chinese EV market, Samsung SDI became the first global battery manufacturer to construct an EV battery plant and initiate mass production in China, beating LG Chem who broke ground on a similar plant in China a year ago.

The Xi’an plant has initiated its operation from September. It has finalized battery supply agreements with 10 local personal and commercial vehicle companies and is already delivering the goods. Some of these companies include Yutong, the leader of China’s and also the world’s bus industry and then Foton, the leader of China’s truck industry.

The finalized Samsung SDI Xi’an Plant is a cutting-edge production line that can manufacture high-performance electric vehicle (in standard of pure EVs) batteries for an amount of approximately 40 thousand cars a year. The plant is capable of carrying out the whole production process of EV battery cells and modules. Preparing for increased market demand in the future, Samsung SDI will invest – by adding production line, etc. – 600 million USD into the Xi’an battery plant until 2020 and aim to achieve 1 billion USD in sales.

Samsung SDI CEO Cho Nam Seong said in his welcoming address, “Xi’an is a starting point of Silk Road and is also a focal point of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative.” He added, “To go hand in hand with China’s time-honored tradition and future development strategy, we will bring up Xi’an plant to become the world center of EV battery industry.”

Anqing Ring New Group Chairman Pan Yi Xin said, “By integrating our expertise in the automotive business with Samsung SDI’s advanced technical capability, we will promote Xi’an Plant as the number one production base of EV battery.”

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Samsung SDI highlights Low Pack Batteries at Frankfurt auto show

Following the trend confirmed by VW Group for flat battery packs (re: Tesla) with the Porsche Mission-E, Audi e-tron SUV & Volkswagen EV Microbus announcements, Samsung SDI said Wednesday that it is seeking to gain new momentum in its battery business by promoting its Low Pack batteries at this year's auto show in the German city of Frankfurt.

In a statement, SDI said the battery pack will have a huge influence on the surface design of electric vehicles (EVs) as global carmakers are looking at battery performance of the different battery suppliers.

In addition to batteries, materials to be used in EVs were also exhibited during the major European auto fair. Samsung SDI Battery Systems (SDIBS), a new name after SDI's acquisition of Magna in May, also attended the annual event.

"The Low Pack battery has drastically reduced the height of battery packs, helping carmakers get more flexibility when they design stylish EVs and want to change the structure of EVs," said its spokesman Seo Hae-su.

Even small changes in battery pack design impact the optimum size of the motors, brakes and suspension. Until battery performance is locked down, any design the car makers come up with rests, in a sense, on quicksand.

Seo declined to comment about which carmakers were talking with the Samsung Group's battery affiliate.

The statement said SDI installed an independent booth for the show to promote the company's latest battery packs and materials.

At the 66th show, top European carmakers including Audi are expected to steal the limelight with much-awaited electric sedans and electric SUV concept cars.

"With SDI's full battery cell lineup, the company is exhibiting standardized modules to be used in plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. SDI is the only major battery maker worldwide that will be participating in the show," Seo said, adding that he will talk with existing and new car producers to win more orders.

SDI has secured more than 30 orders to supply battery packs to global car makers since the Samsung affiliate jumped into the market in 2009. SDI said 50 percent of the orders came from the European market.

In addition to batteries, SDI is displaying engineering plastic products for automobile exterior and interior design, and metallic materials to reduce the weight of cars.

Seo said SDI is on track to improve its battery technology to better compete with its chief rivals LG Chem and Panasonic of Japan.

Audi, a key customer for SDI, will show its Audi e-tron Quattro concept at the fair to provide a hint of the future of the brand's sporty electric SUVs. Along with the new lithium-ion batteries supplied by LG Chem and Samsung SDI, EVs should have a range of 500 kilometers on a single charge.

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LG & Samsung to develop 500km+ battery for Audi Q6 e-tron

German carmaker Audi said it will develop batteries for electrically powered Q6 e-tron sport utility vehicles (SUVs) that can run more than 500 kilometers per charge, in partnerships with South Korea's LG Chem Ltd and Samsung SDI Co Ltd.

The South Korean companies will supply the batteries from plants in Europe, Audi said in a statement on Thursday.

Audi, Samsung SDI and LG Chem declined to give financial terms of the respective partnerships.

LG Chem recently entered into a patent license agreement with 3M to expand the use of nickel, cobalt, manganese (NCM) in lithium ion batteries. In May LG Chem also announced its intention to be a supplier of larger batteries between 80 and 120 kWh to car manufacturers targeting a range of 300-500 km.

LG Chem's automotive customers include General Motors, Renault SA, and Daimler AG, while Samsung SDI supplies electric vehicle batteries to BMW and Volkswagen

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Samsung doubles lithium ion battery capacity

Samsung researchers have developed materials that double the power capacity of lithium-ion batteries.

Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) said the technology uses silicon cathode material coded with high-crystalline graphene to produce batteries with twice as much capacity as ordinary lithium-ion batteries.

The institute said the research result was published in the international science journal Nature Communication on Thursday.

The research team said the new technology is expected to enhance the performance of mobile devices and electric vehicles.

"The research has dramatically improved the capacity of lithium-ion batteries by applying a new synthesis method of high-crystalline graphene to a high-capacity silicon cathode," said Son In-hyuk, a professional researcher at SAIT. "We will continue to improve the secondary cell technology to meet the expanding demand from mobile device and electric vehicle markets."

The lithium-ion battery was introduced in 1991 and its storage capacity has been gradually improved. But the material's properties have limited improvements to capacity, failing to follow skyrocketing demand from the mobile and electric car industries.

Consequently, researchers worldwide have accelerated the development of materials for a high-capacity battery that can fundamentally overcome the limitations in graphite material.

One of them is silicon, which is expected to realize more than 10 times the power capacity compared with graphite. But the research has faced serious technological problems over drastic degradation of battery life.

SAIT said its researchers turned to graphene, a relatively new material that is physically strong and highly conductive, to solve this problem.

This material has up to four times the capacity compared with graphite and can double the energy density of ordinary lithium-ion batteries, the institute said.

Patents covering the new technology have been applied for in Korea, China, Europe and the United States.

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BMW Developing Future Batteries with Samsung SDI

BMW announced that it is developing future batteries with Samsung SDI. Also, it will use a Samsung SDI battery in its PHEV model of the BMW 3 series.

During its annual press conference in Munich, Germany, on March 18, BMW Automotive Group's purchasing division head Klous Draeger said, “We are in a very good relationship with Samsung. Last year, we signed an MOU for long-term cooperation with Samsung. Currently, we are developing future batteries together.”

He continued, “We are not sure if we would cooperate with other companies in the future. The only thing we are certain of is that we are in good cooperating relationship now. In five or 10 years, if we produce too many electric cars and demand exceeds supply, only then might we consider getting batteries from other companies. At the moment, we have no plan to get batteries from other firms.”

This is a very rare case that a high-ranking executive in the BMW Group mentioned particular batteries in an annual press conference. The industry believes that the BMW Group is working hard for cooperation with Samsung SDI.

Draeger said, “We will use Samsung SDI’s batteries in our plug-in hybrid electric vehicles based on its compact sedan 3 series next year.”

In July last year, Samsung SDI signed an MOU with BMW Group at BMW Driving Center on Yeongjong Island, Incheon, to supply electric car batteries worth trillions of won in the medium and long term. At that time, the two companies mentioned only the supply deal of Samsung SDI batteries for BMW's i3 and i8 models.

Samsung Group’s venture capital arm recently led a $17 million round of financing for Solid State Lithium Ion battery maker Seeo Inc. California-based Seeo currently has cells (though not in use commercially) capable of operating with an energy density of 350 Wh/Kg (watt-hour per kilogram), but it’s now targeting 400 Wh/Kg — around double that used in most electric vehicles today.

Samsung SDI is also currently supplying electric vehicle batteries to Chrysler and Mahindra of India.

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Samsung SDI to Acquire Magna International’s Battery Pack Business

Samsung SDI has agreed to acquire the battery pack business of Magna International, a leading global automotive supplier.

The acquisition is expected to enhance Samsung SDI’s capabilities in batteries for electric vehicles by combining the company’s established leadership in battery cells and modules with Magna's expertise in battery packs.

Magna’s advanced technology and experience in providing global automakers with battery packs will also help Samsung SDI secure customers in the fast-growing automotive battery markets in Europe, North America and China.

"The acquisition is a key strategic step for Samsung SDI to strengthen the competitiveness of our automotive battery business,” said Namseong Cho, President and CEO of Samsung SDI. "It will provide new momentum to expand our business and customer base.”

Under the agreement, Samsung SDI will acquire the entire battery pack business from Magna Steyr, an Austria-based operating unit of Magna International, including all 264 employees, production and development sites and existing contracts of the business.

Financial terms of the deal will not be disclosed. The transaction is expected to be completed during the first half of 2015, pending regulatory approvals.

The global market for electric vehicles, including hybrid and plug-in hybrid models, is forecast to reach 7.7 million vehicles by 2020, compared with 2.1 million in 2014, according to research firms B3 and IHS.

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Samsung SDI to supply 40% of Tesla batteries

Tesla Motors and Samsung SDI are in talks over whether to expand their partnership in batteries for electric cars, industry officials said Sunday.

"With Tesla seeking to diversify its battery sourcing channels beyond its key partner Panasonic, Samsung SDI will have greater room to supply more electric vehicle (EV) batteries to Tesla," said an official who declined to be named.

Samsung SDI is expected to account for about 8 percent of Tesla battery demand this year, worth 36 billion won. It expects to raise that portion to 40 percent in 2016, with sales to the American company rising to 254 billion won.

"From next year to 2018, Samsung SDI may handle 40 percent of Tesla demand," said another source directly involved with the issue.

Samsung SDI said nothing has been decided.

Samsung SDI's target for EV batteries is considered as rather aggressive. But optimists say EVs remain economically-viable with gas at $2 per gallon.

Even with plunging oil prices, analysts say the economics for EVs is well supported as they are still at parity with conventional vehicles after 5 years of ownership at the current gas price level.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk expects to sell "a few million EVs a year by 2025. The company will soon start building two new factories, one each in Europe and Asia.

To that extent, Tesla needs additional battery partners.

"We expect more development from Tesla's Gigafactory planned for 2020. Some of the battery demand within the project could be allocated to different partners, for which we believe Samsung SDI remains well positioned on the basis of both technology and capacity," said Mark Newman at Bernstein Research.

"For Samsung SDI, a meaningful development in regard to partnership with Tesla would first help sentiment in terms of earnings impact," he said.

Research firm Navigant Research said 2014 global EV sales were estimated at 2.7 million, accounting for 3.3% of global light vehicle sales for the year.

Samsung SDI's share of the EV battery market stood at around 7.2 percent last year, driven mostly by the strong performance of the BMW i3.

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Samsung leads $17M investment in Solid State Lithium Ion Battery Start-up

Seeo Inc., a battery maker developing a Solid State Lithium Ion Battery for electric vehicles, got a $17 million round of financing led by Samsung Group’s venture capital arm.

Seeo will use the funding from Samsung Ventures to continue to develop its lightweight lithium-polymer battery technology, the Hayward, California-based company said in an e-mailed statement today. Existing investors Khosla Venture and GSR Ventures also joined in the funding.

According to Seeo, it will use the cash injection to expedite the commercialization of its DryLyte advanced lithium polymer batteries, which sport an electrolyte that enables better energy density, specifically for use in electric vehicles.

Seeo currently has cells (though not in use commercially) capable of operating with an energy density of 350 Wh/Kg (watt-hour per kilogram), but it’s now targeting 400 Wh/Kg — around double that used in most electric vehicles today. But safety is paramount when developing such batteries, and this is the crux of the technology Seeo is working on.

Seeo’s DryLyte “solid” polymer electrolyte is non-volatile and non-flammable, which means it can be used at a much higher temperature. Seeo is striving to replace the standard flammable liquid-based electrolytes, typically found in lithium-ion cells, with its own technology.

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Samsung SDI to Boost Supply of BMW i3 & i8 battery cells

The BMW Group and Samsung SDI plan to expand their supply relationship for battery cells for electro-mobility. The two companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect today in Seoul. Samsung SDI will supply the BMW Group with battery cells for the BMW i3, BMW i8 and additional hybrid models over the coming years. The most important elements of the agreement are the increase in quantities delivered over the medium term, in response to growing demand for electro-mobility, and further technological development of battery cells.

Dr. Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, responsible for Purchasing and Supplier Network: “Our partnership with Samsung SDI is a good example of successful Korean-German cooperation on innovative technologies. The battery is a key component in every electric vehicle – since it basically determines the range and performance capabilities of the car. In Samsung SDI, we have chosen a supplier that offers us the best-available technology with future-oriented Korean battery expertise.”

Sang-Jin Park, CEO of Samsung SDI: “I am very proud that Samsung SDI supports the success of the BMW i3 and i8. The decision taken in 2009 to choose lithium-ion battery cells from Samsung SDI for the BMW i models was the right one for both companies. Additional BMW vehicles will also be equipped with Samsung SDI’s leading lithium-ion technology. This MoU with the BMW Group demonstrates the trust in Samsung SDI’s future technology and efficient mass production capabilities. Both companies are confident that this extended partnership will secure their leadership in future technologies.”

The partnership with Samsung SDI since 2009 provides the BMW Group with access to state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery technology. Another important factor in the choice of Samsung SDI was that the company considers the suitability of lithium-ion battery cells for environmentally-friendly production and subsequent recovery of materials during product development. Complete high-voltage batteries for the BMW i3, BMW i8 and other future hybrid vehicles are built on an ultra-modern assembly line at BMW Plant Dingolfing. The only supplied parts are the cells – otherwise the high-voltage batteries are developed and produced completely in-house, building on experience with earlier batteries developed in-house for models, such as the BMW ActiveHybrid 3 and 5 and the BMW ActiveE, with further optimisation.

The extension of the collaboration with Samsung SDI underscores the BMW Group’s strategy of further electrification. Continuation of the partnership also confirms the success of BMW i. Customer demand for the BMW i3 remains high. In addition, in the first half of 2014 the BMW Group has already sold around 5,400 BMW i3 cars.

Deliveries of the BMW i8 got underway in the main international markets in June. Demand is already significantly higher than the planned production volume for the ramp-up phase.

South Korea is also an important supplier market for the BMW Group, beyond the partnership with Samsung SDI. For this reason, the company opened a local purchasing office in 2009. In 2014, the purchasing volume in this market will exceed 300 million euros – a significant increase over the previous year, with sourcing volumes continuing to climb over the coming years. The BMW Group relies on a total of 20 South Korean suppliers. South Korea will be one of the key purchasing markets for the BMW Group in the future, especially for innovative IT technologies.

The BMW Group has operated its own subsidiary in South Korea since 1995. This commitment was expanded in 1998 with the opening of a logistics and training centre. BMW Financial Services has also been active in South Korea since 2001. On 14 July 2014, the BMW Group opened its only combined brand and driving experience centre worldwide currently, in the vicinity of Seoul airport. In 2013, the BMW Group was market leader in South Korea’s premium segment for the sixth consecutive year, with the sale of 39,367 BMW and MINI vehicles – an increase of 13.4% from 2012. A total of 1,328 BMW motorcycles (+27.6%) were also delivered to customers. In the first half of 2014, sales reached 21,972 units (+19,3% compared to prev. yr.). BMW South Korea employs a total workforce of 230 people.

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Renault Samsung begins production of electric vehicles

Renault Samsung Motors, the local unit of French automaker Renault SA, has begun producing its electric sedans on Monday, its chief executive said.

The annual production capacity for its SM3 electric vehicle (EV) will reach up to 4,000 units starting next year at its assembly plant in Busan, said Francois Provost, the CEO of Samsung Renault Motors, at a ceremony in the southeastern port city.

The SM3 EV can travel 135 kilometers on a single charge, according to the carmaker.

Though the price for an SM3 EV is set at 45 million won (US$42,000), with government subsidies for electric car buyers, the price tag comes down to 22 million won, the company said.

As part of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the environment ministry and provincial authorities in Jeju have begun providing subsidies worth 15 million won and 8 million won, respectively, to zero-emission car buyers.

The ceremony came two months after GM Korea Co., the local unit of U.S. General Motors Co., unveiled the electric version of the compact Chevrolet Spark.

Kia Motors Corp., South Korea's second-largest carmaker, has also rolled out its electric car called the Ray and said it plans to introduce the electric version of its Soul box car in the first half of next year.

As of June, a total of 1,146 electric cars were used in the country, mostly by government agencies and public corporations, according to the environment ministry.

South Korea has installed 1,165 charging stations for electric vehicles across the country including 110 quick charge stations, the ministry said.

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Samsung SDI to buy Bosch stake in battery venture

Samsung SDI Co. said Wednesday it plans to take over its battery-making joint venture with Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH as it seeks to boost its competitiveness in the production of lithium-ion batteries for automobiles.

South Korea's Samsung SDI said in a regulatory filing it would pay Bosch $95 million for the 50% stake in the venture, SB LiMotive, that it doesn't already own.

But the net payment will be $57 million as Bosch plans to acquire SB LiMotive's U.S. and German subsidiaries for $38 million, the South Korean company said.

Commenting on the reorganization, Dr. Bernd Bohr, the chairman of the Automotive Group of Robert Bosch GmbH, said: “When it comes to electromobility, a market with great potential for the future, we have already made a successful start with diverse projects, and are driving forward many other developments. In restructuring our operations, we can respond better to our customers’ requirements with respect to market focus and speed, and will continue to work all out to expand our market activities.”

In future collaboration with its former joint venture partner, steps have been taken to ensure that all development and supply agreements will be continued. In addition, the parties have agreed to grant each other access to patents.

The entire battery systems business will be transferred to Bosch, including all components, such as the crucial battery management system. Bosch will take over the subsidiary SB LiMotive Germany GmbH. Based in Stuttgart, it focuses on systems engineering, battery management systems, prototyping, marketing, and sales. At the same time, Cobasys will be integrated into Bosch. This subsidiary, which is important for the U.S. market, has locations in Orion (MI) and Springboro (OH).

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Renault Samsung to Sell All-Electric Car in S Korea Next Year

Renault Samsung Motors, the South Korean unit of Renault S.A., Monday entered the race to sell electric cars in Asia's fourth-biggest economy, announcing plans to start sales of its all-electric powered car to customers from the second half of next year.

South Korean car makers are at the initial stage of introducing electric vehicles as they see potential demand for the environment-friendly cars amid rising oil prices.

Kia Motors aims to introduce an all-electric version of its Ray car in 2013 for general customers, depending on Korea's progress in building charging stations for electric vehicles. Hyundai Motor, which owns 34% stake in Kia, plans to sell an Elantra-sized compact electric car from 2014.

The make-or-break issue for car makers looking to introduce all-electric cars in Korea is the lack of charging stations across the country. Only a small number of charging stations currently exist and are used for Hyundai and Kia electric vehicles -- Hyundai's BlueOn and Kia's Ray--used by the Korean government. The government has said it will build 150,000 charging stations across the country by 2016 to help boost sales of eco-friendly vehicles.

Prior to sale of the SM3 ZE (Renault Fluence) to customers, Renault Samsung said it will supply 500 units of the pure electric car at KRW64 million ($55,000) per vehicle to public organizations this year in a pilot program. The per-vehicle price includes the government's current subsidy worth KRW15 million.

"We will have customers pay for the battery on a lease program to help ease their initial burden in purchasing the car," Lee Sang-tae, Renault Samsung's deputy overseas program director, said. "The final sticker price will be determined depending on what the government's subsidies are for customers."

LG Chem will supply a 24-kilowatt lithium-ion polymer battery for the SM3 ZE model built at the auto maker's Busan plant, Mr. Lee said. He expects the price of the 24-kilowatt battery to be lowered from the current KRW24 million, pulling down the price of the electric car as well.

LG Chem is also the supplier of car battery for General Motors Co.'s (GM) Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid.

GM Korea does not have a plan to sell an electric version of the Chevrolet Spark mini car in the domestic market though the company will produce it next year at its Changwon plant for export initially to California.

BMW AG is also set to enter the local electric car market in 2014 with its i3 model following its global launch in 2013.

Hyundai said it does not have a plan to sell the BlueOn all-electric car to customers.

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Samsung SDI & Bosch’s JV to supply EV batteries to Mahindra

SB LiMotive, a joint venture of South Korea’s Samsung SDI and Germany’s Bosch, has reported Tuesday that it will provide lithium-ion batteries for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) to India’s largest SUV company Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M).

M&M is set to adopt SB LiMotive’s batteries to its first hybrid SUV model, and SB LiMotive will provide battery packs starting from 2013.

SB LiMotive was chosen as the battery supplier for BMW electric cars in 2009, and in the same year, it signed a 10-year contract with Delphi, a car parts producer, to provide batteries for Delphi’s hybrid commercial cars starting from 2012.

SB LiMotive signed a contract with US-based Chrysler Group to provide battery packs for Chrysler’s electric car ‘Fiat 500EV’ in November 2010, and it inked a deal with the U.S. Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) in March 2011 to co-develop the next generation electric vehicle batteries for the next three years.

Samsung SDI is reported to be on track to make negotiations on its electric vehicle battery supply with large carmakers including Europe’s leading automobile producer Volkswagen.

Samsung has set its goal to provide its batteries to 15 to 20 global carmakers by 2015 and achieve the top position in the electric vehicle battery market afterwards. SB LiMotive will devote $500 million by 2013 to expanding its Ulsan production line in order to further extend its monthly output capacity to 400,000 batteries within three years.

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Samsung-Bosch Venture to Invest in Car-Battery Plants

SB LiMotive Co., a 50-50 joint venture between South Korea's Samsung SDI Co. and Germany's Robert Bosch GmbH, will invest $500 million by 2013 to add one or two more car-battery production lines in Korea.

Samsung SDI may also expand its production facilities beyond Asia to regions including Europe to meet increasing demand for batteries used for electric automobiles, a company spokesman said Tuesday.

In September 2009, Samsung SDI flagged its intention to invest as much as 500 billion won ($460 million) from 2011 through 2015 in facilities to produce batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles.

Samsung SDI—an affiliate of South Korea's biggest conglomerate Samsung Group—and the world's largest lithium-ion polymer car battery maker by sales, LG Chem Ltd., are both seeking to gain a greater share of the global automotive-battery market.

"Samsung announced earlier this year that it will push the electric car battery business as one of its new growth drivers and we see a lot of growth potential in this market, as demand for electric cars will continue to increase more and more as time goes by," a company spokesman said.

The joint venture currently produces 50,000 units of rechargeable batteries for cars a month but it plans to boost its monthly production capacity to as much as 400,000 units within the next three years, the company spokesman said.

Last week, Samsung SDI and LG Chem announced that they will increase investment in their battery businesses, as the South Korean companies seek to capitalize on fast-growing demand for rechargeable batteries used in consumer electronics and automobiles.

Samsung SDI currently supplies lithium-ion batteries to global car manufacturers, including BMW AG and Chrysler Group LLC of the U.S., while LG Chem has 10 customers for its lithium-ion polymer batteries, including General Motors, Ford Motor, Renault, Hyundai Motor and China's Chana.

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Bosch/Samsung JV want 30% of EV battery market in 6 years

The joint venture between Korea's Samsung SDI and Germany's Bosch plans to invest US$407 Million in an electric vehicle battery plant as part of its bid to gain 30% of the global market by 2015.

SB LiMotive has broken ground on its factory to produce lithium ion batteries used to power hybrid and pure electric vehicles in the southeastern city of Ulsan. The plant will start production in 2011.

The market for eco-friendly vehicles is expected to grow rapidly, boosting demand for batteries to power electric vehicles. Samsung SDI expects the lithium-ion battery market for electric cars to reach $20.4bn in 2020 from $180m in 2009.

Lithium ion batteries are currently mainly used in notebook computers, cell phones, MP3 music players and other portable devices but are increasingly being used to power electric or hybrid cars.

Samsung SDI is the world's second largest maker of lithium ion batteries after Japan's Sanyo, holding a 17% share at the end of 2008, according to Japanese market research firm IIT. Sanyo held 27% of the market.

The battery and display unit of Samsung Electronics, last year launched the joint venture with Bosch. The move came as Samsung SDI, a maker of both PDP screens and bulky cathode ray tubes for TVs, seeks to transform itself into an energy firm amid the sluggish sales of its conventional display business.

The company plans to turn its complex in Ulsan into a hub for its green energy business, planning to produce not only electric vehicle batteries, but small-size rechargeable batteries, fuel cells and other next-generation energy sources.

Large corporations in Korea are stepping up their car battery businesses, hoping to cash in on rising demand for eco-friendly cars.

LG Chem, the country's top chemicals company, recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Mobis, Korea's biggest auto parts maker, to collaborate on a venture for car batteries.

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