Hyundai is launching its all-solid-state ‘Dream’ EV battery pilot line next month

Hyundai is set to shake up the EV market with advanced new batteries soon. In March, Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery pilot line to the public for the first time. The “Dream” batteries promise to unlock more range, faster charging, and significantly higher energy density.

Hyundai will reveal its all-solid-state EV battery pilot line

During its 2023 CEO Investor Day, Hyundai outlined plans to become a leader in the EV battery space. Hyundai announced an investment of over $9 billion (KRW 9.5 trillion) over ten years to develop a range of batteries.

Hyundai is developing lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP), Nickel Cobalt Manganese (NCM), and all-solid-state EV batteries to cover all segments.

Last month, local reports surfaced that Hyundai was almost finished constructing an all-solid-state EV battery pilot line.

On February 9, industry sources (via ET News) said Hyundai will hold an opening ceremony in March for its next-gen battery research center in Uiwang, South Korea. Hyundai built the all-solid-state EV battery pilot line inside the new research facility.

The ceremony will mark the first time Hyundai unveils its new battery technology to the public. Several industry leaders and high-ranking officials will reportedly attend, including GM, which recently expanded its EV partnership with Hyundai.

Hyundai’s all-solid-state pilot line will begin full-scale production next month. Industry sources expect Hyundai will release a prototype powered by the new EV batteries by the end of 2025.

Hyundai will use the demo line to test the new battery technology. All-solid-state batteries are often referred to as the “Dream” EV battery because they have the potential to provide more range, faster charging, higher energy density, and safety than alternatives.

However, they are not yet commercially available due to poor stability and manufacturing hurdles. To put it simply, it’s much easier said than done.

Hyundai aims to begin mass-producing all-solid-state batteries around 2030, with the first EVs powered by the new tech arriving shortly after.

Hyundai’s opening ceremony comes after Honda unveiled its first all-solid-state EV battery pilot line in November.

Electrek’s Take

Although a pilot line is still a small step, it can be huge for Hyundai. Like many automakers, Hyundai currently gets its batteries from others like CATL, SK On, and LG Energy Solution, but with plans to build them in-house, it could get a considerable advantage over rivals.

Based on its E-GMP platform, Hyundai already has some of the most efficient electric cars on the market, including the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6.

With plans to launch its more advanced “eM” platform and in-house batteries, Hyundai has a chance to drastically cut costs, speed up output, and take a leadership role as the industry shifts to electric.