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| A model shows a rollable battery developed by Samsung SDI at its booth in this year's battery technology exhibition in COEX Convention Center, southern Seoul, Tuesday. At right is LG Chem's booth where it showcased its advanced vehicle batteries. / Courtesy of Samsung SDI, and LG Chem |
By Kim Yoo-chul
Samsung SDI and LG Chem competed to showcase their prowess in advanced batteries at the "InterBattery Technology Exhibition" in the COEX Convention Center, southern Seoul, Tuesday.
The exhibition runs until Thursday.
Samsung is putting more focus on small- and medium-sized batteries for smartphones and phablets, while LG is focused on large-sized batteries to be used in electric vehicles.
During the exhibition, Samsung unveiled "rollable batteries" for what the company claims is ― the most advanced flexible battery beyond curved and bendable ones ― for the first time in the world.
It said the development is the result of work at the Samsung Technology Center and added that mass-production will be coming within the next few years as the company needs to improve production yields with greater stability.
"As we secured winding manufacturing technology ― a key process to cut production costs ― and related patents, we will be able to become a leader in the wearable era," said spokesman Seo Hae-su.
Its booth at the show was mostly covered by batteries for mobile devices, such as curved batteries for smartbands, and slim batteries for electric cards.
In mid-ranged batteries, it displayed a dual-battery system, which is jointly being developed by Ford of the United States, and energy storage systems and battery packs, which it exclusively supplies for BMW's i3.
LG Chem aims to create values
LG wanted to showcase its advanced technologies and products.
"The key theme is how batteries could change a person's daily life, dynamically and smartly," LG spokesman Woo Byeong-min said.
"For example, a person wears a smartwatch, commutes by an electric bicycle and works at a smart office equipped with an energy storage system and other high-tech gadgets. This is an aspect of our future life that will be possible with advanced batteries," said Woo.
LG displayed products using its in-house battery technologies that include stepped batteries with greater longevity and greater flexibility, as well as curved batteries and cable batteries.
In the auto-section, the LG affiliate exhibited actual models of Hyundai Motors' Grandeur hybrid electric vehicle and General Motors' Spark, respectively. LG supplies car batteries to more than 30 global carmakers.
"By displaying the latest batteries and finished goods with such technologies, LG tried to help visitors better understand about batteries and related solutions. If you visit the booth, you can take a peek into the future that will be charged by advanced batteries," said Woo.
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