Hyundai just announced a partnership with a top tier battery supplier company, SK Innovation. The two conglomerates plan to revolutionize the battery supply chain to ensure the future of EVs; after all, there won’t be a future for EVs if there aren’t batteries to propel them.
Hyundai & SK Innovation Strategy
The two companies aim to refine many aspects of the battery industry, such as sales, management, and reuse/recycling. Mobility companies have tried to tackle the issue of battery, but only from the supply perspective. Hyundai-SK plans to cover the cycle of battery usage.
The partnership aims to strengthen and stabilize the battery supply chain and create a virtuous cycle of resources. This process will be accomplished by recycling and reducing carbon emissions. Optimal designs connecting EVs and battery usage will be encouraged, no point in encouraging inefficient designs after all. But this is truly smart because core functions of a car such as HVAC and other electronics could get programmed in a more efficient manner that is less taxing on the battery, preserving the life of the EV battery.
Solutions that maximize the value and eco-friendliness of EV batteries is, of course, the goal. Aside from recycling, Hyundai-SK plans to reuse batteries that are no longer useable in vehicles. These seemingly worthless batteries can be used as Energy Storage Systems (ESS) and other possible applications. Of course, recycling the metals in batteries is an efficient way to accumulate lithium, nickel, and cobalt to use in the production of new EV batteries.
Hyundai & SK Innovation Partnership Conclusion
Hyundai is taking collaborations to another level, and it doesn’t end with SK Innovation. Other partnerships with companies that specialize in EV battery reuse include Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co., Wartsila, OCI, and Hanwha Solutions. The state of battery tech is the biggest hindrance in EV cars’ growth, and Hyundai may quickly find the solution with these other companies’ help.
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Kevin Meyn is an automotive journalist for Torque News concentrating on Hyundai content. Kevin is the founder of Exhaust Sports Auto Youtube channel, where he does professional car reviews on new and used vehicles. Through the use of various resources and extended Automotive expertise, Kevin documents the latest in automotive news revolving around Hyundai. Kevin graduated from NC State University studying Supply Chain Management but has had a passion for cars since he was a child. Follow Kevin on Twitter and Instagram @exhaustsports.