Samsung delivers solid-state battery for EVs with 600-mile range as it teases 9-minute charging and 20-year lifespan tech

Samsung took part in the SNE Battery Day 2024 expo in Seoul this week to demonstrate its new battery technologies. The first batches from its pilot solid-state battery line have been delivered to EV makers, and they've been testing the cells for about six months now.

According to Samsung SDI's VP, automakers are interested in its solid-state battery packs because they are smaller, lighter, and much safer than what's in current electric cars. Apparently, they are also rather expensive to produce, since it warns that they will first go into the "super premium" EV segment. Those Samsung defines as luxury electric cars that can cover more than 600 miles on a charge.

Samsung's oxide solid-state battery technology is rated for an energy density of about 500 Wh/kg, which is about double the density of mainstream EV batteries. Those have capacities that already allow more than 300 miles on a charge, so 600 miles of range in a similar footprint is not out of the question, but the issue is production costs.

Both Toyota and Samsung have vowed to begin mass solid-state battery production in 2027. Toyota, however, also advised that it will be installing them in premium electric cars under the Lexus brand first, so solid-state batteries won't reach mass market cars any time soon.

Actually, price was the main reason that the largest EV battery maker CATL initially scoffed at any mass solid-state battery production plans, saying that this can't happen before 2030. CATL has since reconsidered, though, and is now planning for 1% solid-state battery penetration rate in 2027.

Besides solid-state battery commercialization with its proprietary mass production technology, Samsung wants to be competitive in the more affordable EV segment as well. It is developing cheaper LFP and cobalt-free batteries, as well as a dry electrode production method.

To set its electric car batteries apart from the competition, Samsung will offer packs that can be charged in 9 minutes, as well as ultimately extend the lifespan of its batteries to 20 years.

While these teased specs may sound impressive, the Chinese battery makers have already announced such battery technologies, so Samsung will simply be playing catch-up. NIO, for instance, now offers a 150 kWh battery pack with semi-solid electrolyte whose highway speed testing session with the premium ET9 sedan returned more than 650 miles of range on a single charge.

As for the fast 9-minute charging, Samsung probably means the usual criteria of bringing up a battery from a 10% or 20% charge to 80%. Chinese battery makers already offer 5C or 6C charging speeds with some of their battery technologies, but the challenge is building out the charging infrastructure to sustain those.

Those 480kW and even 600kW stations that Chinese EV makers have announced are still few and far between even there, let alone the US, where most electric cars are Teslas on the older 400V powertrain architecture.

A 20-year endurance and the corresponding warranty seem to be an upcoming battery standard, too, as CATL and others have already announced such "million-mile" batteries.

NIO and CATL are also working to promote a longer, 15-year battery warranty, in order to create a viable used EV market.