BMW to use South Korean partners for solid-state battery

BMW is planning to collaborate with South Korean suppliers in the production of solid-state batteries, TheElec has learned.

BMW’s South Korean subsidiary will meet various suppliers in equipment and materials and report back to headquarters in Germany.

Those from BMW are planning to meet suppliers in assembly, solid electrolytes and other equipment and materials.

Some of these companies will include CIS, Hana Technology and EcoPro BM.

BMW is planning to build the pilot line in Germany, sources said. It is highly likely that it will be built at Cell Manufacturing Competence Center at Parsdorf. BMW had spent 170 million euros on the Center.

Sources said BMW could also collaborate with Samsung SDI, following Samsung vice chairman Lee Jae-yong and Samsung SDI CEO Choi Yunho’s meeting with BMW CEO Oliver Zipse last month.

Samsung and BMW had been collaborating for over 10 years on batteries.

Samsung SDI is currently also running a pilot line for solid-state batteries called S Line. The S stands for Solid, Sole and Samsung SDI, sources said.

The South Korean battery maker is planning to make a prototype by 2023 and start investing in 2025, they said. Samsung SDI is expecting to start commercial production in 2027 and will offer solid-state batteries as premium products.

Samsung SDI had been sharing its roadmap with automobile companies since last year and is promoting its technology heavily, they added.-+

Meanwhile, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes instead of liquid. The use of solid reduces the risk of fires and it can use lithium metal for the cathode instead of graphite and silicon to increase energy density.