China, South Korea Drive EV Battery Innovation: Breakthroughs In Stability, Fire Safety

Researchers at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in China have achieved a major breakthrough in battery technology, which could potentially influence the future of electric vehicles (EVs).

The team, led by professors Zhang Changkun and Li Xianfang, developed new naphthalene-based organic redox-active molecules (ORAMs) for aqueous organic flow batteries (AOFBs). These molecules provide unprecedented stability, significantly extending batteries’ lifespan.

Lab results showed the new battery retained 99.95% of its capacity over 600 charge cycles, per Interesting Engineering's report. While traditional flow batteries often depend on costly vanadium and experience degradation through side reactions with external elements – new ORAMs make AOFBs more durable, cost-effective, and easier to scale.

Improving battery durability and stability has been crucial for EVs to replace fossil-fuel-powered vehicles, but China is already at the forefront.

Earlier this year, Tesla's key battery supplier, CATL, introduced the Shenxing Plus battery pack at the Auto China Show. This battery offers a 370-mile range on a 10-minute charge and over 620 miles on a full charge, addressing the industry’s lingering concerns over range anxiety.

Besides range anxiety, fire risk remains a point of criticism. EV car fire videos go viral every month, but South Korean tech giant LG is working on a solution.

Its subsidiary, LG Chem, the largest Korean chemical company, announced a breakthrough in EV fire prevention through a "Safety Reinforced Layer." This thin composite material, placed between the cathode and current collector, works to stop fires by preventing thermal runaway. The material chemically disrupts the circuit when temperatures exceed a safe range, essentially working as a self-extinguishing fuse within the battery.

"This is a tangible research achievement that can be applied to mass production in a short period of time," CTO Lee Jong-gu said in a press release.

The new material dramatically reduces the chance of EV fires and could pave the way for safer battery packs by 2025 when large-scale testing concludes. If successful, this innovation will address one of consumers’ most significant concerns about EVs, further accelerating adoption.

Earlier this year, LG Chem signed a $19b deal with General Motors GM to supply EV batteries through 2035.

ETF to watch:  Global X Autonomous & Electric Vehicles ETF DRIV seeks to invest in companies involved with EVs and their components and materials, as well as autonomous vehicles and hardware.

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