Hyundai to open pilot production line for solid-state batteries in March

According to Korean media ET News, Hyundai plans to introduce a pilot production line for solid-state batteries inside the brand-new Uiwang Battery Research Center in the Gyeonggi Province in South Korea. The opening ceremony should be held in March, with a prototype expected by the end of the year.

To be clear, Hyundai has not yet confirmed this information, but it comes from “industry sources” quoted by ET News. They claim that Hyundai is trying to achieve battery independence by producing its own solid-state batteries rather than relying on external sources for this next step in (EV) battery tech.

Mass production by 2030

The rumored opening ceremony in March will be the first time Hyundai reveals its solid-state battery design. Multiple stakeholders are set to attend, including officials from General Motors, which has been collaborating with Hyundai to develop hydrogen fuel cells and EV batteries.

Hyundai has not yet given a concrete launch date for its first electric models equipped with a solid-state battery. In 2023, a vague goal of “around 2030” was given for mass production with this technology on board, but a prototype and perhaps a limited-series flagship model could precede this end goal. Some media claim a prototype will be shown before the end of 2025.

Holy Grail of EV battery tech

To recall, solid-state batteries differ from current-gen EV batteries by using solid electrolytes, compared to the liquid (or gel) materials used in lithium-ion batteries right now.

The advantages are plural: better energy density and, therefore, lower weight for the same capacity, faster charging, more (fire) safety, and a wider optimal temperature range.

Solid-state batteries are considered the ‘Holy Grail’ of EV tech for the near future, as they can dramatically increase range and charging speed without compromising on weight or performance.

There is also an intermediary step, called semi-solid-state batteries, which combine liquid and solid electrolytes. To avoid confusion, the term “all-solid-state batteries” is also used.

Development challenges and costs

The downsides? The stability of solid-state batteries has been a big hurdle for the R&D teams at car manufacturers and battery specialists, as the solid electrolyte is more sensitive to expansion and contraction under different temperatures. Cracks can, therefore, form, which creates room for crystal shards to grow, rendering the battery inoperable.

As the technology is still in its infancy, prices for materials and manufacturing tools are still very high, which results in expensive batteries.

Second half of the 2020s

But because the benefits are so great, most EV manufacturers are betting on solid-state batteries as the next step to improving electric vehicles. Honda opened its pilot production line for solid-state batteries in January, and solid-state EVs are planned for the second half of this decade.

Rival Japanese manufacturers are also working toward launching their solid-state cars before 2030. Nissan projects a market debut by 2028 (perhaps for the electric GT-R successor?). Toyota has announced a similar timeline, with two solid-state battery versions and charging times as low as ten minutes.

MG promised a solid-state battery-powered car in 2025, but it seems that it will be a semi-solid-state unit for the Cyberster instead. BMW is collaborating with US-based Solid Power to supply electrolyte material, from which it will produce batteries in its own pilot plant in Germany.