Samsung SDI's highest energy density battery wins the InterBattery Award

12 March 2026, 06:52:19

InterBattery 2026 opened at Coex in Seoul on March 11, drawing large crowds from the first day and highlighting the growing global interest in advanced battery technologies. Samsung SDI hosted the largest booth at the event and presented a wide range of solutions designed to support the rapidly expanding AI ecosystem. Operating under the theme "AI Thinks. Battery Enables," the company emphasized how next‑generation batteries will power the infrastructure and devices that define the AI era.

Furthermore, Samsung SDI has received the InterBattery Award for its new high‑energy prismatic battery, which achieves an energy density of 700 Wh/L. This next‑generation cell enables an electric vehicle driving range of up to 800 km on a single charge and supports fast charging with strong output performance. The award highlights the company’s progress in advancing EV battery technology for longer range and improved efficiency.

To reach this level of performance, Samsung SDI introduced a direct‑connect current collection structure in its prismatic cells. Traditional current collection systems use multiple components and complex pathways, but the new design connects directly to the electrode plates. This reduces internal resistance, frees up space for more active material, and increases both energy density and charging speed. Engineers noted that simplifying the structure was essential for maximizing the internal volume of the thin 700 Wh/L cell.

The company also improved material technology by developing a nickel‑rich NCA cathode containing 91 percent nickel. High‑nickel cathodes increase energy density but can suffer from surface cracking during charge and discharge cycles. Samsung SDI addressed this by applying a new structural design that stabilizes the cathode and extends battery life. For the anode, the company adopted its third‑generation SCN silicon‑carbon nanocomposite material, which reduces graphite content and creates a denser internal structure. This minimizes electrolyte penetration, suppresses expansion, and contributes to longer cycle life.

Safety features were also strengthened. The prismatic cells use a rigid aluminum can that provides strong resistance to external impact. Samsung SDI incorporated its No Thermal Propagation technology along with a gas vent system to prevent fire spread in extreme conditions. Engineers involved in the project described the development process as a series of challenges, particularly when transitioning the high‑nickel cathode and third‑generation SCN anode from early prototypes to mass‑production readiness.

Samsung SDI is a global battery manufacturer headquartered in South Korea, specializing in advanced energy‑storage technologies for electric vehicles, consumer electronics, and industrial applications. The company is known for its innovations in prismatic, cylindrical, and solid‑state battery designs and operates research and production facilities worldwide. Samsung SDI continues to invest in next‑generation materials and manufacturing processes to support the growing demand for high‑performance, safe, and efficient energy‑storage solutions.

News related to Samsung or Samsung SDI

Samsung SDI has signed a memorandum of understanding with Korean automaker KG Mobility (KGM) to jointly develop next‑generation battery pack technologies centered on Samsung SDI’s 46‑series cylindrical cells, the companies announced this week. The agreement, formalised at a ceremony held at KG Tower, commits both firms to collaborative research and market strategy exchanges aimed at commercialising high‑capacity...

24 December 2025

Since 2022, the BMW Group and Solid Power, Inc. have intensified their collaboration to develop all-solid-state battery technology, advancing through a technology transfer agreement that recently culminated in the integration of Solid Power's large-format pure ASSB cells into a BMW i7 technology test vehicle. In October 2025, Samsung SDI joined the effort, forming a three-way collaboration that combines the...

31 October 2025

In April 2023, GM and Samsung SDI announced their joint venture will invest more than $3 billion to build a new battery cell manufacturing plant in the United States for the production of both prismatic and cylindrical batteries. However, the latest information coming from the project is that the 4680 cylindrical batteries will be excluded for now and the plant will focus on prismatic cells only. The companies have...

29 August 2024

Samsung SDI announced it has struck a supply deal for electric vehicle batteries with Hyundai Motor for the first time. More specifically, it will supply prismatic batteries for Hyundai Motor's electric vehicles targeting the European market for seven years from 2026 through 2032. The batteries to be supplied for Hyundai Motor will be the sixth edition of Samsung SDI’s prismatic battery, named as "P6." P6 features a...

24 October 2023

Samsung SDI and Stellantis announced that Kokomo, Indiana, will be the site for a second battery manufacturing facility in the United States as part of the StarPlus Energy joint venture. The new StarPlus Energy plant is expected to begin production in early 2027 with an annual capacity of 34 gigawatt hours (GWh). This will be the second StarPlus Energy gigafactory in Kokomo. Construction is already underway on the...

17 October 2023

Business Korea reports that according to its industry and government sources, Samsung SDI and the Ulsan city officials are in talks regarding the expansion of the company's Ulsan plant with an LFP battery production line. If these talks lead to actual construction, this will be the first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery production facility in South Korea. This type of battery is less efficient than the NMC one...

21 August 2023

Stellantis and Samsung SDI announced that they have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a second battery manufacturing facility in the United States, under the existing StarPlus Energy joint venture. Targeted to start production in 2027, the plant aims to have an initial annual production capacity of 34 gigawatt hours (GWh). In May 2022, Stellantis and Samsung SDI announced their commitment to build a...

25 July 2023

The Elec reports that Samsung SDI plans to expand the production of batteries in its Goed, Hungary gigafactory and include the production of 46210 cells. According to the media sources, it is BMW who requested such cells from Samsung SDI. Meanwhile, BMW is building an EV factory in Debrecen, which is a 3-hour drive from Goed. The expansion will require an investment of 500 billion won for two production lines with...

11 July 2023

Samsung Electro-Mechanics announced on the 16th that it has succeeded in realizing the industry's highest capacity in terms of high-pressure MLCC applicable to electric vehicles and has started market targeting by expanding its line-up for high-end level automotive electronic components. The MLCCs developed this time are products that have the characteristics of 250V class 33nF (nanofarad) with low capacitance...

17 May 2023

SNE Research reported that the global EV battery market has recorded a 38.6% YoY growth in Q1 of 2023. The total amount of energy held by batteries for pure EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs was around 133 GWh. CATL remains the top market player with a growth rate of 35.9% and 35% market share. BYD experienced a staggering growth in the Q1 of 115.5% but ranks second in market share with 16.2%. LGES is third with a growth rate of...

5 May 2023

Stellantis and Samsung SDI marked a milestone today in the construction of their joint venture electric-vehicle battery manufacturing facility in Kokomo, Indiana, with the raising of the first piece of steel that will form the structure of the new gigafactory. The two companies announced the formation of the joint venture in May 2022, committing to invest more than $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) and create 1,400 new...

23 March 2023

According to The Elec, Samsung SDI will supply cylinder batteries for EVs to General Motors. For the purpose, the two companies will establish a joint venture that will build a battery factory with an annual capacity of 30GWh. So far, GM has been using pouch batteries from LG Energy Solution but last month it said it considers all types of cells. Samsung SDI has already announced its plans to invest 40 trillion won...

8 March 2023

According to SNE Reasearch, the global battery usage for 2022 has been 518GWh - a 517.9% growth YoY. For this year, the research agency expects 749 GWh of batteries to be deployed in EVs, PHEVs, and HEVs. Being a South Korean company, SNE Research pays special attention to the three local companies that are major players in the EV battery market - Samsung SDI, SK On, and LG Energy Solution. Their production is...

8 February 2023

According to Digitimes Research reported by Digitimes Asia, the global sales of electric vehicles have reached 9.78 million units in 2022. The projected growth for this year is 49% to 14 million units sold globally. Of those, 9 million are expected to be sold in China only. Even now, China's share of the global EV sales is higher than 60%. For comparison, Europe sales account for 24% of the total sales, and USA...

11 January 2023