EcoPro to launch high-voltage mid-nickel cathodes production

A view of EcoPro’s Pohang campus in North Gyeongsang Province / Courtesy of EcoPro

EcoPro, the leading company in high-nickel cathode technology, is now diversifying its product lineup with mid-nickel materials.

The company announced that it has completed technical validation of its newly developed high-voltage mid-nickel (HVM) cathode material and is preparing for full-scale mass production to meet automakers’ growing demand for lower-cost battery components.

High-nickel cathodes, used in premium electric vehicle (EV) batteries, contain over 90 percent nickel, whereas mid-nickel cathodes contain around 60 percent. As nickel, one of the three main elements for ternary cathode materials, accounts for about 70 percent of their raw material cost, reducing nickel content helps lower overall costs.

HVM sets itself apart from conventional mid-nickel cathodes through a single-crystal design that boosts performance at high voltages, while improving the battery’s lifespan and safety. In particular, the company has significantly improved its performance in low-temperature conditions, which previously was seen as a weak point of mid-nickel batteries, allowing them to deliver steady power even in harsh winter conditions.

“By applying our proprietary single-crystal cathode technology to mid-nickel materials, we’ve been able to reduce microcracks that occur at high voltages and enhance overall performance,” an official from EcoPro BM said.

“Single-crystal cathodes consist of particles with a continuous crystal structure, which helps prevent breakdown during repeated charge and discharge cycles, resulting in greater long-term stability.”

The company also expects its mid-nickel products to have a strong cost advantage thanks to its investment in Indonesia, which allows it to secure access to high-quality nickel at competitive prices. It has invested about 700 billion won ($477.6 million) in four nickel smelters at the Indonesia Morowali Industrial Park on the country’s Sulawesi Island.

Building on that initial investment, the company is also planning a second-phase project at the nearby International Green Industrial Park to obtain about 66,000 tons of nickel intermediates annually.

Leveraging its expertise in advanced high-nickel technology used for premium EV models, EcoPro now aims to expand into mid- and lower-priced segments through its HVM technology. The company is currently in talks with major global automakers and battery cell manufacturers to supply the mid-nickel products and has begun establishing production lines to start mass production in 2027.

The company plans to build its first mid-nickel production base in Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and later implement the technology at its cathode plant in Hungary to tap aggressively into the European market.

The Hungary plant, which spans 440,000 square meters, currently operates three production lines with a total annual capacity of 54,000 tons. The company plans to add three additional production lines of similar capacity as market demand grows.