https://www.argusmedia.com/en/news/2110915-koreas-posco-readies-shift-to-highnickel-batteries?amp=1Korea’s Posco readies shift to high-nickel batteries
Published date: 03 June 2020
South Korean battery materials maker Posco Chemical is shifting toward cathodes with higher nickel content to meet customer demand for greater energy density and longer driving ranges in electric vehicles (EVs).
--The company's Posco Chemical unit, which this month completed a 25,000 t/yr expansion of its cathode materials plant in the southern port city of Gwangyang, is focusing on mass producing cathodes with 65pc nickel content. The unit is developing new cathode materials that consist of more than 90pc nickel, Posco said. Typical EV batteries today have nickel content of about 30-50pc.
--The strategy reflects a push by EV battery makers to increase efficiency and extend driving ranges to help win more contracts from carmakers. South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI has said that nickel will make up more than 80pc of the cathode materials in its fifth-generation EV batteries when commercial production begins in early 2021. Energy density will be increased by more than 20pc over current models and driving ranges will reach about 600km.
