SK On said at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Last Vegas it had agreed to strengthen its partnership with Solid Power, a US based developer of solid state battery technology.

SK On originally invested US$30m in Solid Power in 2021 with a view to jointly developing all solid state batteries (ASSBs).

SK On said it had signed a new research and development technology licence agreement with Solid Power to help accelerate the development of ASSBs.

Under the agreement, SK On will have the right to use Solid Power’s technology for ASSB cell design and pilot production processes for research and development purposes.

Colorado-based Solid Power will help SK On accelerate the development of ASSBs, which are seen to have better safety and higher performance characteristics than the lithium-ion batteries widely used today and will also supply sulphide-solid electrolyte materials.

SK On plans to build an ASSB pilot line at its battery research facility in Daejeon, South Korea, by 2025 to test and validate new products and technology before mass production.

SK On said it aimed to develop ASSBs with “upgraded cycle life and energy density” by combining its cell design and production knowledge and technology with Solid Power’s in sulphide-based electrolytes and cell solutions. Following their successful collaboration, the two companies also plan to continue cooperation in commercializing ASSBs.