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SK Innovation to begin production of NCM-811 batteries

Korea-based SK Innovation said it will start the first commercial production of mid-and large-size pouch-type NCM-811 batteries. NCM-811 refers to the nickel-rich layered cathode material, comprising 80% nickel, 10% cobalt and 10% manganese. SK Innovation has been producing NCM-622 cells (60% nickel, 20% cobalt, 20% manganese in the cathode). SK Innovation said that the new higher energy density cells could extend EV range by another 100 km compared to current cells.

In a 2016 review paper published in ACS Energy Letters (Myung et al.), a team of Korean researchers suggested that the vast majority of electric vehicles on the market over the next decade will use nickel-rich cathode materials—LiNi1−x−yCoxAlyO2 (NCA) and LiNi1−x−yCoxMnyO2 (NCM) in particular. Extending intrinsic capacity in these layered oxides requires, for example, increasing nickel content. Such an effort, however, also involves balancing other operational parameters (power, lifetime, safety, cost).

Ncm
An overview of NCM compositions from Argonne National Laboratory and BASF. Click to enlarge.

… using NCA and NCM cathodes to fill the gap between the present generation of automotive batteries and the 2025 target requires fine-tuning of the available variables of nickel content, upper cutoff voltage, packing density, and loading level. In parallel, the development of efficient modification techniques must offer even better mitigation of the degradation processes that unavoidably will become harsher as the cathode energy density is increased.

… Apart from possible co-doping, the results presented in this Review clearly indicate that no Ni-rich cathode material will be able to meet the energy density, power, lifetime, and safety targets unless one or more stabilization techniques are adopted.

… Surface stabilization is mandatory to diminish the reactivity and reduce the amount of highly reactive Ni4+ and/or impede the reactivity toward the electrolyte. The simultaneous adoption of a compositional gradient, with a Mn-rich shell region, and a surface coating appear at the moment as the most promising technical solution. Further improvements could include further refining of the gradient profile to further optimize the trade-off between energy density and cycle stability. Coatings deposited with more sophisticated deposition techniques, like atomic layer deposition, could also prove beneficial due to superior uniformity and potential for much better thickness control. Promising results on this topic have been recently reported for both NCA and NCM 811 cathodes. Nevertheless, the impacts of these kinds of deposition techniques on the final material cost remain to be fully evaluated.

—Myung et al.

SK Innovation said that the new NCM-811 cells would be used in stationary energy storage systems starting in December of this year, with targeted deployment in electric vehicles beginning in the third quarter of 2018.

The batteries will help extend a driving range of electric vehicles up to 500 km, and we will also develop new batteries by 2020 that can provide a range of more than 700 km.

—Lee Jon-ha, SK battery R&D center

In August, SK Innovation reorganized to put the battery unit and R&D lab under the direct supervision of CEO Kim Jun.

SK Innovation said it plans to boost its battery production to 10 GWh by 2020 and secure 30% of global market share for electric vehicle batteries by 2025. SK Innovation currently supplies batteries to Mercedes-Benz, Kia Motors and China’s BAIC Motor Corp.

Resources

  • Seung-Taek Myung, Filippo Maglia, Kang-Joon Park, Chong Seung Yoon, Peter Lamp, Sung-Jin Kim, and Yang-Kook Sun (2016) “Nickel-Rich Layered Cathode Materials for Automotive Lithium-Ion Batteries: Achievements and Perspectives” ACS Energy Letters 2 (1), 196-223 doi: 10.1021/acsenergylett.6b00594

Comments

mahonj

Why stationary first, then EVs a year later ?
I wonder is it weight or vibration resistance, or just being careful ?

Davemart

mahonj:

One heck of a lot easier to ensure safety in stationary storage, I would have thought, and check performance before putting them in a car.

This is serious news, both because cobalt is in tight supply and reducing the proportion of it is important, and because this, in my view at least, is a much more credible way of improving performance soon rather than solid state.

A major technical advance.

SJC

Lithium Manganese is cost effective just not the highest density. If we can package the pouch cells better we can compensate.

HarveyD

An all weather 700+ Km BEV would be acceptable as a family car, if the price is right.

Alternatively, a 700+ Km FCEV at the same relative price would also be acceptable

mahonj

I don't quite get this:
The existing 622 battery has a density of 178 Ah/Kg
The new 811 battery has a density of 185 Ah/Kg, about 4% better.

Then they say ..."extend EV range by another 100 km compared to current cells."
Or are they referring to the 260 HE-NCM batteries which are about 46% better than the 622's?

Davemart

Hi mahonj.

Where are you getting your figures from?
I can't see them in the article.

Centurion

Excelente noticia si no fuera por todo el tufo que desprende "Por parte de la empresa NO de Greencarscongrees". Como ya ha dicho el compañero del otro lado del charco la ganancia respecto al 622 es de un ¡¡¡4%!!! ¿Cómo pueden hablar de 100km más de autonomía?. Lo de 700km de autonomía para 2020 es de autentica risa, el único fabricante a día de hoy que da esos 500km es Tesla con su model S eso si 100kwh de batería y algo más de 600kg de peso.......Llevo escuchando desde principios del 2000 gurus vaticinando coches eléctricos a baterías con autonomías equivalentes al de un gasolina ¿Y en pleno 2017 donde estamos?. Yo personalmente estoy muy cansado de leer y escuchar promesas sobre baterías milagrosas que se les espera y nunca llegan......Aunque eso si la labor divulgativa de Greencarscongress es impagable ojala en europa hubiera algo parecido pero ni a eso llegamos aquí. Un fuerte abrazo a todos los Estadounidenses.

yoatmon

@ Davemart:
The image at the near top of the article depicts three variables - 1, 2 and 3. Look at V 2 (Hi Nickel) and you will see "NCM 811 and others" Discharge Capacity 185 Ah / kg @1C etc. etc..

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