As the time for my country’s new energy vehicle subsidies to fully decline, LG Chem, Samsung SDI, Panasonic and other overseas power lithium-ion battery giants are secretly accumulating their strength, intending to take advantage of the leading advantage to nugget the upcoming non-subsidized market.

One of their core advantages is the battery technology research and development advantage that leads the development of the global power lithium-ion battery industry.

➤LG Chem: Basic material research + continuous high investment

LG Chem cooperates with OEMs covering many global brands such as American, Japanese, and Korean. It has deep research advantages in the field of basic materials, and at the same time regards the “Automobile Battery Development Center” as an independent organization belonging to the battery business segment, as shown in the following figure:

▼LG Chemical Research Organization Structure

With decades of advantages in material research, LG Chem can introduce unique technologies in positive and negative materials, separators, etc., into the product design for the first time, and directly reflect the unique technology in the cell research and development process. It can supply the entire product portfolio related to power lithium-ion batteries from Cell, module, BMS, and Pack development to technical support.

Supporting the research and development of LG Chem’s technology is sustained high capital investment. According to survey data, LG Chem’s overall R&D funding and manpower investment has continued to rise since 2013. By 2017, R&D investment reached 3.5 billion yuan (RMB), ranking first among global battery companies in R&D investment that year.

The resource advantages of upstream raw materials and the independent ability of production links provide a strong guarantee for LG Chem’s ternary soft package route with higher comprehensive costs and higher technical thresholds.

In terms of technical route upgrades, LG Chem is currently working hard from the soft package NCM622 to NCM712 or NCMA712.

In an interview with the media, the CFO of LG Chemical stated that the company’s positive electrode material upgrade route from 622 to 712 or even 811, LG has separate plans for the matching of the soft package method and the cylindrical method and the application of downstream models (the soft package will not be developed for the time being 811 , And the cylindrical NCM811 is currently only applicable to electric buses).

However, whether it is NCMA positive electrode or NCM712 positive electrode, LG Chem’s mass production plan is scheduled for at least two years, which is much more conservative than Panasonic’s high-nickel route plan.

➤Samsung SDI: Cooperation with research institutions + continuous high-intensity investment

Samsung SDI adopts a partnership model similar to that of CATL in the field of research and development: it cooperates with domestic and foreign university research institutions to set up important technical issues, solve commercial development together, and jointly promote research projects to create synergies.

▼Samsung SDI Organization Chart

Samsung SDI and LG Chem have different technical routes. They are mainly square-shaped. At the same time, they actively follow up the production of 21700 batteries. The cathode materials mainly use ternary NCM and NCA materials. However, its investment in research and development is also very strong.

According to survey data, Samsung SDI’s R&D investment in 2014 reached 620,517 million won, accounting for 7.39% of sales; R&D investment in 2017 was 2.8 billion yuan (RMB). Regarding important issues in the field of next-generation batteries and materials, by supporting the development of patents that are closely related to the issues, we will explore competitive patents and open up new business areas.

Samsung SDI prismatic battery has reached the level of 210-230wh/kg energy density.

According to Wei Wei, vice president of Samsung SDI my country at this year’s Electric Vehicle Forum, Samsung will vigorously develop the fourth generation of products from the cathode material (NCA route), electrolyte and anode technology in the future. After launching the fourth-generation battery with an energy density of 270-280wh/kg, it plans to continue to develop the fifth-generation product with a planned energy density of 300wh/kg to the high nickel route.

The company’s square development direction also includes “low-height batteries” with improved model size, introduction of fast charging materials, and overall lightweight packs. In addition to prismatic batteries, Samsung SDI also has a layout in the field of solid-state batteries and cylindrical batteries. In 2017, Samsung SDI exhibited solid-state batteries and battery modules based on 21700 cylindrical cells at the North American Auto Show, demonstrating the ability to develop in multiple routes.

It is worth mentioning that Samsung SDI is backed by Samsung Group’s strong R&D and resource strength, and also has the ability to supply power lithium-ion battery solutions for the entire industry chain.

➤Panasonic: Innate advantages of cylinder + supporting Tesla

In 1998, Panasonic began mass production of cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for notebook computers and built an industry-leading production line for lithium-ion batteries. In November 2008, Panasonic announced a merger with Sanyo Electric and became the world’s largest supplier of lithium-ion batteries.

Panasonic’s R&D layout in the field of power lithium-ion batteries is based on its long-standing cooperation with brands such as Tesla and Toyota, focusing on the Japanese and American markets. The solid foundation it has accumulated in the consumer lithium battery business has maximized the inherent advantages of the cylindrical method of mature technology and high consistency, and has achieved a high-energy density and stable cycle battery module suitable for Tesla models.

Looking back at the previous generations of Panasonic batteries equipped from Roadster to Model 3 today, the improvement in the technical method level is concentrated in the improvement of the cathode material and the size of the cylinder.

In terms of cathode materials, Tesla used lithium cobalt oxide cathodes in the early days, ModelS began to switch to NCA, and now the use of high-nickel NCA on Model 3, Panasonic has been in the industry leader in improving cathode materials in pursuit of high energy density.

In addition to the positive electrode materials, the cylindrical method has evolved from the 18650 type to the 21700 type, and the trend of seeking a larger electric capacity of a single cell is also led by Panasonic. While promoting the improvement of battery performance, large batteries reduce the difficulty of pack system management and reduce the cost of metal structural parts and conductive connections of battery packs, thereby reducing costs and increasing energy density.