L&F’s Innovation Center in South Korea_an EV battery material maker
South Korea’s leading battery materials maker L&F Co. plans to begin mass production of nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) battery cathodes with 95% nickel content in December – the highest nickel content for such a battery type.
L&F will begin supplying NCM cathodes with 95% nickel content to Korean battery cell makers and US electric vehicle makers, people familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
L&F is the first in the industry to achieve such high-density nickel content in cathodes, which make up the positive end of a lithium-ion battery, sources said.
Ultra-high-nickel battery cells are critical to future mobility technologies such as full self-driving and in-vehicle front displays.
Tesla plans to launch the Cybercab, an autonomous robotax
With every 1 percentage point hike in battery nickel content, the EV’s driving range increases by 10 km, according to industry officials.
Sources said L&F’s move to mass-produce ultra-high-nickel cathodes is part of its business strategy to set it apart from Chinese battery materials makers, which largely focus on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes, widely used in batteries for low-end EVs.
L&F counts Tesla Inc. as well as Korea’s top three battery makers – LG Energy Solution Ltd., SK On Co. and Samsung SDI Co. – among its major clients.
TESLA’S CYBERCAB
L&F has already commercialized high-nickel cathode materials with over 90% nickel content, supplying batteries in partnership with LG Energy Solution to clients such as General Motors Co.
“Korean battery-related companies have strengths in high-nickel batteries – a key differentiator with Chinese rivals, which have yet to catch up with,” said a battery industry official.
Cathode black powder. Cathode is a key ingredient of lithium-ion batteries
Tesla recently unveiled its autonomous robotaxi, the Cybercab, with plans for mass production between 2026 and 2027. Autonomous vehicles equipped with AI functions are expected to require substantial power, potentially making them “electricity guzzlers,” according to industry officials.
L&F is said to be working to eventually produce NCM battery cathodes with 97% nickel content.
L&F’s crosstown rival, EcoPro BM Co., is closely behind, reportedly nearing mass production of cathode materials with 94% nickel content.
Cathode materials are made up of nickel, lithium and other materials, and comprise around 40% the cost of electric vehicle batteries.
In addition to NCM cathodes with high-nickel content, L&F is also capable of producing nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum (NCMA) cathodes.
L&F CEO Choi Su-an
MID-NICKEL BATTERIES
LG Chem Ltd., the parent of LG Energy Solution, is reportedly focusing on mid-nickel batteries, with nickel content between 40% and 60%.
While these batteries have lower energy density, they are more cost-effective, industry officials said.
POSCO Future M Co., formerly POSCO Chemical Co., is also working closely with Hyundai Motor Co. to commercialize mid-nickel cathodes.
Some analysts, however, expressed concerns over Korean battery materials makers’ move to mass-produce high-nickel cathodes.
If the current slowdown in EV uptakes is protracted or the advent of the autonomous driving era is delayed, battery materials makers such as L&F and EcoPro will face significant challenges in their business directions.
L&F and EcoPro posted operating losses of 72.4 billion won ($52.4 million) and 41.2 billion won, respectively, in the third quarter.
Battery executives visit LG Energy Solution’s booth at Interbattery 2024 and look over its cell-to-pack battery concept
With a firm footing in the cathode segment, L&F is also setting its sights on another key battery component, the anode, L&F Chief Executive Choi Su-an said in an interview with The Korea Economic Daily.
Lithium-ion cells are composed of four main components – cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolytes.
Cathode-active materials comprise around 40% of the cost of EV batteries while anodes account for about 15%.
In February 2023, L&F said in a public disclosure with Korea’s financial regulatory body that it clinched a $2.91 billion deal to supply cathodes to Tesla.
Under the deal, L&F will provide high-nickel cathode to Tesla and its affiliates for two years from Jan. 1, 2024 through Dec. 31, 2025.
LFP BATTERIES
In July, LG Energy, the world’s second-largest battery maker, said it clinched a multi-billion-dollar deal to supply LFP batteries for low-end electric vehicles to Renault Group’s EV unit Ampere.
Korea’s three major battery makers have concentrated on expensive NCM cells. However, they are now shifting gears to produce low-end LFP cells on growing demand from Tesla Inc. and other major EV makers.
LFP batteries are mostly made by Chinese companies, including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. (CATL), the world’s top battery maker, and BYD Co.
LFP cells are lower in energy density but cheaper to make compared to other types such as NCM batteries, and thus more suitable for low-end EV models. LFP batteries are also more stable, meaning they are less susceptible to fire.
By Sang Hoon Sung
Uphoon@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.
