Samsung and BMW Team Up to Advance All-Solid-State Battery Technology

Samsung SDI has signed a trilateral agreement with BMW Group and Solid Power. They will collaborate on an all-solid-state battery validation project (ASSB), aiming to establish global value chains for ASSB batteries across materials, cells, and automobiles.

Samsung SDI, BMW, and Solid Power team up for ASSB battery project

BMW Group is a German premium automobile manufacturer, while Solid Power is a US-based battery technology company. Under this arrangement, Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of Samsung, will supply the ASSB cells using Solid Power’s solid electrolyte materials. BMW will develop modules and packs based on these cells and will integrate them into its next-generation evaluation. The three companies will then test how well the ASSB cells perform according to their parameters and requirements.

ASSB technology replaces the liquid electrolyte found in traditional lithium-ion batteries with a solid electrolyte. This not only makes the batteries safer but also allows for storing more energy in a smaller space. As a result, electric vehicles can drive longer distances without adding extra battery weight.

Samsung SDI aims to commercialize its ASSB battery technology in the coming years. It has also produced prototypes, which are currently undergoing testing in collaboration with multiple customers. “Technological competitiveness in batteries would ultimately lead to innovation in electric vehicles,” said Stella Joo-Young Go, Executive Vice President of ASSB Commercialization Team at SAMSUNG SDI. “SAMSUNG SDI will work closely with great global partners like BMW and Solid Power to take the lead in commercializing ASSB.”

Meanwhile, Martin Schuster, Vice President Battery Cell and Cell Module at the BMW Group, said this partnership will help advance the development of new battery cell technologies. John Van Scoter, President and CEO of Solid Power, said that the company’s solid electrolyte technology is designed for stability and conductivity, and the collaboration will help bring ASSB technology closer to widespread adoption.