LG Chem standardizes battery cell offering 

LG Chem is simplifying its battery product line-up to increase productivity.

The company was currently promoting two models of batteries __ one standard cell with a length in the 300mm range and another long cell version with a length in the 500mm range.

LG Chem had previously made battery cells in a variety of lengths depending on customer orders. This was one of its strengths thanks to it making pouch batteries that can accommodate this diverse lengths. But this also led to constant readjustment of its production line depending on customer's size requirements. These adjustment periods would last around a month and halt lines.

But the South Korean company is changing course due to automobile companies requesting more price cuts for batteries. Automobile companies are also moving to use standardized platforms to produce different kinds of electric vehicles (EV).

LG Chem’s efforts considered return of investments in facilities and yield rate progresses.

The company has already restructured its product line-up extensively. Products not aimed at EV platforms will end production or replaced with other batteries. It has altered some of its production lines for this.

Standard battery cells __ those with lengths between 300mm to 400mm __ are used by Audi, Daimler and Renault. Volkswagen uses battery cells with lengths of 550mm for its Modular Electric Drive, or MEB, platform. Hyundai is expected to use long axis batteries for its E-GMP platform as well.

Past EV uses a variety of battery sizes as the models were usually made with fuel engine car platforms. But with the introduction of EV platforms, sizes of batteries have become standardized with only their lengths differing.