EVs have different battery requirements depending on their application.  While personal EVs have evolved primarily around driving performance and fast-charging technology, commercial EVs like electric trucks and buses place greater priority on long lifespan and cost competitiveness.

Following EV(Part.1) – Personal EV, EV(Part.2) – Commercial EV delves into the characteristics of prismatic and cylindrical batteries used in commercial electric vehicles.

* [BoT] Batteries for All Applications, EV(Part.1) – Personal EV

[The Volvo FH Electric, the world's first heavy-duty electric truck featuring SAMSUNG SDI's 21700 cylindrical batteries]

Electric trucks and buses have longer total driving ranges and require more frequent charging compared to personal EVs. Consequently, customers demand long-life characteristics from commercial EV batteries, specifically the ability to sustain 3,000 to 5,000 charging and discharging cycles*.

* Charging and discharging cycle: The process of charging and discharging a battery to its full capacity, which serves as an indicator of battery lifespan.

To meet these long-life requirements, SAMSUNG SDI has developed low-resistance electrode design technology. Lower internal battery resistance reduces side reactions, promoting reliable performance. To achieve this, the company develops and applies highly conductive, low-resistance materials while meticulously designing the ratio between the cathode and anode.

[Characteristics required for commercial EV batteries]

As price competitiveness is an essential factor along with a long lifespan, SAMSUNG SDI is enhancing cost efficiency by scaling up prismatic cell sizes. Larger cells can reduce the total number of cells required, consequently lowering component costs and simplifying the structural design of battery packs. 

Cylindrical batteries also hold advantage in price competitiveness. SAMSUNG SDI has accumulated process technologies based on its long production history. This enables the company to establish a high-speed production system, further reducing manufacturing costs.

[An autonomous bus ROii equipped with SAMSUNG SDI's 21700 cylindrical batteries is displayed at the “InterBattery 2025”]

Leveraging its prismatic and cylindrical battery technologies, SAMSUNG SDI will continue to advance its battery solutions that balance the long life and price competitiveness required for commercial EVs.