SK On plans to develop cobalt-free batteries within 3 years to reduce costs

CTOnews.com, December 27 (Xinhua) according to TheElec, SK On is planning to develop an electric vehicle (EV) battery that does not use cobalt.

Cobalt is a key raw material for the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries. Its thermal stability and high energy density make it an ideal material for battery applications. However, it is more expensive than other materials such as nickel and manganese. Removing cobalt from the battery will not only reduce the cost of the battery, but also reduce the price of electric vehicles.

CTOnews.com learned that SK On aims to develop the battery within three years and is in negotiations with cathode suppliers to develop a roadmap for the plan, which is most likely to use lithium ferromanganese phosphate (LMFP) cathodes. The lack of or less use of cobalt in cathodes usually means the use of more manganese, which is cheaper than nickel and is considered more stable and can avoid fires. However, the disadvantage of manganese is that its energy density is lower than that of other materials.

SK On is also developing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, both of which could be supplied to medium-and low-end electric vehicles.

SK On is not the only electric car battery maker with such plans. Companies such as Panasonic and Tesla are looking to develop a cobalt-free battery. In January 2021, Shawn Watanabe, head of Panasonic's energy technology and manufacturing division, said at the Consumer Electronics Show that within two to three years from then, the company would be able to launch a cobalt-free high-energy-density battery.

Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla (CEO), has also been saying he wants to switch to cobalt-free batteries.