Park Jae-hyuk is a seasoned journalist who has provided comprehensive coverage of South Korea's corporate dynamics, economic policies, industry challenges and the global positioning of Korean companies. Based on the articles he has written since joining The Korea Times in 2016, his investigative approach has helped readers understand corporate governance, economic trends and business strategies shaping South Korea’s economy.
Top 3 battery makers to participate in InterBattery 2025
Annual event to kick off March 5
Korea’s leading battery manufacturers — LG Energy Solution, Samsung SDI and SK On — will participate in InterBattery 2025, the nation’s largest battery exhibition, to showcase their latest innovations.
The annual event, hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and co-organized by the Korea Battery Industry Association, COEX and KOTRA, will be held from March 5 to 7. Now in its 13th year since its debut in 2013, this year’s event will be the largest yet, featuring over 640 companies, including leading battery manufacturers and material suppliers.
LG Energy Solution will introduce its next-generation 46-series cylindrical batteries for the first time. These batteries deliver at least five times more energy and output than existing models, positioning them as a game-changer in the cylindrical battery market.
By Park Jae-hyuk
The company will also showcase its cell array structure battery module and pack solution, designed to enhance cylindrical battery performance and safety.
Additionally, LG’s batteries power a solar mobility vehicle from Aptera Motors, an American solar EV startup. This innovative vehicle, which combines solar panels with battery packs to maximize range, has even appeared in a well-known American sci-fi film.
Other highlights include its battery management total solution, cost-effective LFP cell-to-pack (CTP) solutions, high-voltage mid-nickel pouch cells and robots equipped with small battery cells.
Samsung SDI will participate under the slogan “InCelligent Life, upgrading our daily lives with battery technologies.” The company will focus on three key safety and performance innovations: No thermal propagation (No TP), all-solid battery (ASB) and CTP.
No TP technology is designed to physically block heat from spreading between battery cells, ensuring greater safety. Samsung SDI’s thermal propagation calculator optimizes structural design to prevent thermal propagation from the product planning stage.
The company will also showcase updates on its ASB, which replaces liquid electrolytes with solid ones for improved safety and performance. With samples already provided to multiple customers, Samsung SDI is progressing toward mass production in 2027.
For CTP technology, Samsung SDI will display a full-scale mockup featuring both top-terminal and side-terminal prismatic batteries, demonstrating its advancements in battery integration and efficiency.
Additionally, Samsung SDI will unveil a 50-ampere high-power cylindrical battery with a tabless design that enhances capacity and current flow. The autonomous bus ROii, powered by 4,000 Samsung SDI 21700 cylindrical batteries, will also be on display.
SK On will highlight its expertise in all three battery form factors — pouch, prismatic and cylindrical. Notably, it will present a mockup of its cylindrical battery for the first time following the completion of its pilot facility last year.
For prismatic batteries, SK On is adding a top-tab prismatic cell alongside last year’s side-tab version while also featuring its Z-Folding stacking and fast-charging solutions.
A key highlight is SK On’s high-voltage mid-nickel battery, which balances cost, performance, lifespan and safety. With 50 to 70 percent nickel in the Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese cathode, these batteries combine the high energy density of high-nickel cells with the cost efficiency and thermal stability of LFP batteries. The pouch-type version reduces nickel and cobalt costs while leveraging high voltage for greater energy density.
Additionally, SK On will introduce its next-generation wireless battery management system, which eliminates wiring by using wireless chips to transmit data.
Hyundai’s Ioniq 9, featuring SK On’s Advanced SF battery with vehicle-to-load functionality, will also be on display.