Hyundai will not give up hope on solid-state batteries

Image: Hyundai (illustrative)

Manfred Harrer, head of research and development at Hyundai Motor Group, considers the development of solid-state batteries to be crucial for the future of the automotive industry. According to InsideEVs, he emphasizes the need to stay ahead in this technology and expects that within the next five years, the first vehicles equipped with such energy storage systems will hit the market in limited quantities.

Unlike current electric vehicles that use liquid electrolytes in their batteries, the new batteries under development by companies including Hyundai replace these with a solid component. This potentially offers advantages in terms of safety and performance, such as longer range, faster charging times, and more compact battery packs.

So far, however, no manufacturer has succeeded in scaling up the production of these cells to a level relevant to the automotive industry. Mass production is considered the biggest challenge for solid-state technology and is expected to take much longer, according to many experts.

According to Harrer, the costs of the required raw materials will remain “extremely high” for many years, which will initially prevent the use of this technology in the mass market. He explained, “Ultimately, everything can be solved, but it comes at a price—a huge price.” In his view, a solution to the issue of raw material costs is not possible within the next five years.

Hyundai is developing solid-state batteries both in-house and in partnership with companies like Solid Power. Other automakers also hope to benefit from this new technology. Harrer described solid-state batteries as “the biggest bet in the industry right now.” Hyundai’s goal is to master this core technology through its own expertise and supply chain. That’s why the South Korean company is also investing in its own battery production.

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About the author

Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with professional experience in the automotive industry and finance sector. Since 2011, he has been covering electric cars, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions on ecomento.de. Learn more.

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