BMW, Samsung SDI, and Solid Power join forces in the race for all-solid-state EV batteries

Samsung SDI is teaming up with BMW and US-based Solid Power (NASDAQ: SLDP) to commercialize all-solid-state EV batteries.

Samsung and BMW will launch all-solid-state EV batteries

BMW and Solid Power have been working together to develop the next-gen battery tech since 2022. Now, Korea’s Samsung SDI is joining the efforts in what’s expected to be a trilateral powerhouse.

Under the new agreement signed this week, Samsung will supply all-solid-state battery cells. Samsung will use Solid Power’s Sulfide-Based Solid Electrolyte solution, while BMW will develop the battery pack and modules.

The strategic alliance aims to take the lead in commercializing all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). Together, they’ve created a real-world system for producing ASSB cells, pooling their expertise in batteries, automaking, and materials to bring it closer to mass production.

Solid Power’s electrolyte solution is designed for stability and maximum conductivity. By teaming up with BMW and Samsung SDI, the company said it aims to bring all-solid-state batteries closer to widespread adoption.

Samsung SDI has been ramping up efforts to bring next-gen battery technology to market. In March 2023, it opened a first-of-its-kind pilot line in South Korea and began producing prototypes by the end of the year. Samsung has already sent samples to several customers.

In May, BMW completed its first on-road tests using Solid Power’s all-solid-state battery cells in a modified i7. The German automaker expects to launch all-solid-state EV batteries in production vehicles around 2030.

Electrek’s Take

ASSBs are widely viewed as the “holy grail” of EV battery tech, promising to double driving range, halve charging times, and reduce costs.

Two of the biggest hurdles in commercializing ASSBs have been: A) developing a material that is stable, safe, and still conductive, and B) the higher costs to mass produce them. By pooling resources, BMW, Samsung SDI, and Solid Power have a real shot at actually making it a possibility.

Many others are betting on solid-state batteries as a potential game-changer. Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen are also testing ASSBs.

Keiji Kaita, president of Toyota’s Carbon Neutral Advanced Engineering Development Center, confirmed this week at the Tokyo Motor Show that the company aims to introduce its first solid-state battery-powered EV by 2028.

Toyota said it looks to “achieve the world’s first practical use of all-solid-state batteries in BEVs” after announcing a collaboration with Sumitomo Metal Mining Co. to mass-produce the new battery tech.

Nissan recently entered into a partnership with LiCAP Technologies to commercialize ASSBs using LiCAP’s patented Activated Dry Electrode process.

China’s CATL and BYD are also planning to introduce the next-gen batteries around 2027, with mass production closer toward the end of the decade.