EV market size projected to reach 30 million units by 2030
Next-Generation Battery Technology Seminar Held Online and Offline
"Batteries must be well-made and used properly to be safe and efficient"


Environmental pollution is intensifying due to the indiscriminate use of resources, and extreme weather events are occurring more frequently. Countries around the world, including the United States, China, and the European Union (EU), are implementing policies to reduce exhaust emissions from vehicles in order to prevent global warming.

Diesel vehicles are already being phased out of the market, and the gradual phase-out of gasoline vehicles has also begun. Electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as an alternative to replace internal combustion engine vehicles.

The '2020 Next-Generation Battery Latest Technology Seminar,' hosted by MICE Forum, was held on the 17th at the Creative Room on the 4th floor of the aT Center in Yangjae, Seoul. This seminar was held both online and offline to accommodate registrants who were unable to attend in person due to the spread of COVID-19.

The global electric vehicle market is expected to grow from 2.5 million units in 2020 to 30 million units in 2030. With the growth of the EV market, the demand for batteries is increasing, and over time, the demand for replacing aging batteries is also expected to rise.

To ensure the driving environment that conventional internal combustion engine vehicles provide to drivers, electric vehicle battery manufacturers are striving to develop batteries that are more efficient, cheaper, and safer than existing ones.

The primary goals of a vehicle are driver safety and ensuring sufficient driving range. The lithium-ion batteries currently most widely used in EVs are unable to meet these requirements.

Because liquid electrolytes are used, they are susceptible to external stimuli and pose a significant risk, and long-distance driving is difficult due to the difficulty in increasing capacity. This is why the demand and research for all-solid-state batteries, which use solid electrolytes instead of liquid ones, and for secondary batteries with improved charging efficiency are expanding.

At the seminar, six battery experts each led a program and shared insights with the participants. In the morning, Professor Jong-Hoon Kim of Chungnam National University discussed 'Internal condition monitoring and optimization technology based on electric vehicle BMS (Battery Management System),' and Principal Researcher Yun-Cheol Ha of the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) discussed 'Technical challenges and prospects for the practical application of all-solid-state batteries based on sulfide-based solid electrolytes.'

In particular, Professor Kim Jong-hoon of Chungnam National University emphasized, “Domestic battery research topics and projects are currently limited to the development of materials,” adding, “While the development of safe and efficient batteries and related materials is important, we must also pay attention to designing BMS that detects abnormal battery operation in real time using AI and other tools, as well as developing the software that runs on it.”

In the afternoon, Professor Park Chul-wan of Seojeong University presented 'Comparative Analysis of Lithium-ion Secondary Batteries vs. Other Next-Generation Batteries,' Professor Choi Won-chang of Konkuk University presented 'Issues and Technological Trends of High-Capacity High-Nickel Cathode Materials for Lithium-ion Batteries,' Professor Lee Sang-young of Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) presented 'Technology Development Trends of Organic Material-Based All-Solid State Batteries,' and CEO Lee Hoo-kyung of EVALL presented 'Battery Electrical Hazards and Fire Prevention Measures.'