SK Energy to Supply Li-ion Batteries to Daimler’s Mitsubishi Fuso

25 October 2009

Reuters. South Korea-based SK Energy said it has been chosen as a supplier of lithium-ion batteries for a hybrid electric vehicle project for Daimler commercial vehicle subsidiary Mitsubishi Fuso; Daimler holds 85% of Fuso.

The project would go through two years of development, SK said in a statement, without disclosing other details including the value of future supplies.

Earlier this month, a source at SK Energy said the South Korean oil refiner was close to a battery deal with Mitsubishi Fuso. SK Energy is also in talks with a domestic elective vehicle maker, CT&T [earlier post], to sell rechargeable batteries. SK Energy said the deal with Mitsubishi Fuso would enable it to participate as a preferred supplier in a variety of hybrid and electric vehicle projects by Daimler.

SK Energy is Asia’s fourth largest energy provider, and was Korea’s first oil refining company, now with a domestic market share of 38%. The company was the first Korean company, and the third in the world, to independently develop a lithium-ion battery separator, which features proprietary technology for low shrinkage and heat resistance.

As of June 2009, South Korea-based SK Energy had developed six lithium-ion cells: two targeted at hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) applications and four targeted at plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) applications. (Earlier post.)

SK Energy uses a lithium manganese oxide cathode material, mixing in NMC material for stabilization; a surface-modified graphite on the anode; a gel polymer electrolyte; and a ceramic-coated proprietary SK separator featuring low shrinkage and high heat resistance. SK cells have an energy density of up to 140 Wh/kg.