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Samsung SDI unveils innovative EV battery products

If you couldn't attend the Detroit Motor Show this past January and you're interested in electric vehicle technology, you missed out on some things you probably would have gotten a charge out of -- the latest, impressive battery-tech offerings from Samsung SDI. The company exhibited a brand new fast-charging, high-capacity battery material as well as cutting-edge battery products for electric vehicles.

The concept of SDI's exhibition at the show was "Future Starts Today," which means that the future of electric vehicles operating on the same level as internal combustion engine vehicles starts now. The exhibition covered three themes: "Extend Your Journey," "Redefine Your Design," and "Enjoy Your Ride."

Samsung SDI is aiming to stay extremely competitive with a lineup of various battery cells for electric vehicles (EVs) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that come in 37-, 50-, 60-, and 94-Ah capacities. The product range is highlighted by battery cells with energy densities high enough to propel EVs as far as 373 miles (600 km) after just a 20-minute charge.

SDI featured the recently introduced battery technology of "graphene balls," a unique material that enables a 45 percent increase in capacity and five times faster charging speed. This technology is at the center of SDI's latest effort on solid-state batteries, a technology that has improved both the capacity and safety of the company's batteries. The development of graphene balls by a team of researchers at the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology was covered in the November 2017 edition of the science journal Nature Communications.

Also exhibited were modules and packs utilizing these next-gen battery cells to demonstrate Samsung SDI's capabilities as a total solutions provider. EV batteries tailored to specific needs are offered. Multi-Functional Module Battery Packs allow users to adjust the number of modules to capacities they need, so they can diversify driving distances capabilities. These packs are of special interest to automakers that want to make vehicles with different ranges by using a single pack as the foundation for an entire vehicle platform.

Another groundbreaking Samsung SDI product exhibited at the show was the "Low Height Cell." This is a cell whose height has been reduced by more than 20 percent from existing cells. By using this cell design, the automotive companies can increase the interior space of an EV and increase design flexibility for the vehicle overall.

Lastly, Samsung SDI displayed cells and modules based on the new 21700 standard cylindrical battery. A "21700" battery is 21 mm in diameter and 70 mm in height with capacity that is 50 percent larger than 18650 battery technology. Its size is optimal for maximizing power output as well as battery life. A 21700 battery has come into the spotlight as the next-generation standard for applications in energy storage systems (ESS), electric power tools, and electric vehicles.

Learn more about Samsung SDI battery tech here.

Source: Samsung SDI

Published March 2018

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