Samsung jumps on the LFP and solid-state EV battery production bandwagon

Samsung is preparing for a shift in its production strategy that will bring growth from the rise in demand for electric vehicle components, informed the CEO of its Electro-Mechanics division. According to Chang, "for the past decade it has been smartphones and PCs, but the company is now preparing to ride the rise of automotive and automobile." Samsung is already supplying EV batteries to General Motors, Volkswagen, BMW, Volvo, and others, but it plans on vastly expanding its production capacity and develop its own offerings based on new technologies like iron phosphate (LFP) or solid-state batteries.

The LFP battery market is cornered mainly by Chinese makers like CATL or BYD which supply the cells for Tesla's bestselling vehicles like the standard range Model 3 or Model Y. Samsung, however, intends to diversify its portfolio of performance EV batteries with LFP cells of its own. They are considered pivotal for the next period of mass electrification that will see many automakers introduces sub-$US25,000 cars like the recently announced VW ID.2all hatch, or the still elusive Tesla Model 2, and Samsung is hoping to capitalize on the insatiable demand for cheaper LFP batteries they will be equipped with.

Besides the LFP and 4680-style battery technologies that Samsung will provide to GM, VW, BMW, and the rest of its EV clients, it will also dabble in solid-state batteries. A pilot solid-state battery production line is reportedly been equipped this year and will start trial production runs in 2024. The chief of Samsung Electro-Mechanics said that the company will be leveraging its ability to produce solid oxide at high temperatures acquired from years of making multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCC), the demand for which is now skyrocketing thanks to EV applications.

This type of stable oxide electrolyte is used in solid-state batteries instead of the flammable liquid polymer electrolyte in current EV cells and helps to prevent or delay the thermal runaway effect that many a fire department has become intimately acquainted with when they have to put out electric vehicle fires. Samsung will announce its solid-state battery solution when it has an engineering prototype ready, added the CEO, and plans to start mass production in 2027 which seems to be the deadline year for commercialization of many other solid-state battery projects by various EV component suppliers, too. 

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