South Korean EV battery maker SK On on Tuesday revealed that it has completed construction of a pilot facility in Daejeon, south of Seoul, for trial production of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs).
Currently, SK On is working on two types of solid-state batteries: one using polymer-oxide composites and another based on sulfide materials, with commercialization targeted for 2028 and 2029.
The pilot facility, located at the company’s research center in Daejeon, will primarily focus on developing sulfide-based cells, though portions of the line are also set up for lithium-metal anode battery development. The plant was established with backing from Solid Power, SK On’s strategic partner in solid-state battery innovation.
Lithium metal cells, considered a next-generation technology, replace conventional graphite anodes with lithium, reducing both weight and volume to deliver higher energy density.
Spanning approximately 4,628 square meters, SK On’s pilot facility will produce battery prototypes for client evaluation while also functioning as a platform to test and validate product quality and performance ahead of mass production.
The company also confirmed that the plant will be the first in South Korea to adopt a ‘warm isostatic press-free technology’ process, which enhances energy density and performance by applying uniform pressure to electrodes at high temperatures.
SK On aims to bring batteries with an energy density of 800 watt-hours per liter to market while targeting a long-term increase to 1,000 Wh/L. To speed up the development and commercialization of all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), the company formed a partnership last year with Colorado-based Solid Power Incorporated, a leading U.S. developer specializing in ASSB technology.
In addition to its in-house efforts, SK On is collaborating with multiple partners to advance next-generation battery technologies. In May, the company, alongside researchers from Hanyang University, successfully tripled the lifespan of sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries by applying a protective film to lithium metal anodes. The technology has already been filed for patent protection both domestically and internationally.
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