Hyundai is all set to power up their EVs with Solid State Batteries

Solid State Batteries are the next generation of newly designed batteries which will be powering up the EVs in future. As we discussed Solid State Batteries and their functioning in our technology driven articles, how they will change the face of EV mobility in future.

Hyundai has disrupted the global electric vehicle market, as they are all set to invest in Solid State Batteries by integrating them in their future EVs. The South Korean company is ready to introduce their solid state batteries in March 2025.

These newly designed innovative batteries will be providing more range, greater energy efficiency and faster charging. However if we take a look at the market all major automakers are planning to create their own set of solid state batteries, which is the next advancement in the EV industry.

Hyundai’s Plans for Solid State Batteries

In the 2023 CEO Investor Day Summit, Hyundai cleared their plans as they want to rebrand themselves as a leader in the EV battery sector. They are even investing $ 9 Billion dollars to develop different varieties of electric batteries in the next ten years. These batteries will cater to different segments of cars, classified by budget and models, these include:

1. Lithium-Ion Phosphate Batteries (LFP)
2. Nickel Cobalt Manganese Batteries (NCM)
3. Solid State Batteries (SSB)

There are also reports between December 2024 and January 2025 that Hyundai is nearing the completion of its pilot line of battery manufacturing for Solid State Batteries, this means they have begun the production of SSBs in full swing.

Hyundai will publicly announce its new generation of batteries in March 2025. The automaker will also be organizing a ceremony for its public research facility in Uiwang, South Korea, which will be attended by many high-ranking officers as well as industry leaders.

Hyundai will start the full-scale production of its solid state batteries by next month and will display a full prototype model powered by the new set of solid state batteries before 2026.

How Do Solid State Batteries Function?

Solid State Batteries are often defined as “Dream” EV batteries as they have the potential to provide higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries which results in a higher range on a single charge, faster charging times and even less possibility of fire risk.

The problem with lithium-ion batteries is that they use traditional liquid or gel electrolyte which increases the weight of the batteries and is less efficient too. Solid State batteries in comparison get solid electrolytes such as ceramics, polymers, and other solid materials.

These solid electrolytes help SSBs achieve more energy density and help in storing more energy within the same volume. Another good thing about solid electrolytes is that they are generally non-flammable, making them free from the risk of fire especially in high-temperature environments, where lithium-ion batteries can explode or catch fire.

Major Automotive companies and manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota have started working on the research and development of Solid State Batteries and are developing it to equip them in their next generation cars with latest technology.

However Solid State Batteries are not commercially available for sale at present. As major companies are facing issues such as higher costs than lithium-ion batteries.

Issues

The main reason is that developing solid electrolytes at a large scale is a cumbersome and complicated process. As a result, companies are taking their time to bring down the costs so that they can market their cars competitively and to bring the technology into the mainstream market.

Currently, Hyundai is planning to start mass production of SSBs around 2030 and the first EV to be powered by Solid State Batteries could arrive just after the batteries are commercially available. The competitors such as Honda are even more futuristic, as they have a vision to feature Solid State Batteries by the late 2020s.