South Korea launches $300 million roadmap to shift battery focus to sodium-ion and solid-state tech
South Korea unveiled a Battery Technology Roadmap that pivots to sodium-ion and solid-state batteries, backed by a 400 billion-won state R&D fund and 8 trillion won private investment.
Korean officials and battery-maker leaders gathered at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Seoul to launch a national Battery Technology Roadmap aimed at regaining global EV battery leadership. The strategy abandons the traditional high-nickel NCM chemistry in favor of two next-generation routes: sodium-ion batteries, which substitute lithium with abundant sodium, and solid-state cells, valued for safety and high energy density.
The government will fund a 400 billion-won research program from 2027 to 2031, while the three major manufacturers have committed 8 trillion won in R&D and plant upgrades through 2030. Goals include achieving 160 Wh/kg for sodium-ion by 2027 and 220 Wh/kg by 2030, and delivering solid-state prototypes by 2027 with 400 Wh/kg by 2028 and commercial launch in 2030 for uses such as commercial EVs, robotics and drones. The roadmap also calls for unified cell dimensions, direct data sharing between automakers and cell makers, production tax credits starting in 2027, and a circular recycling system aligned with EU standards. Lee Min-woo stressed that coordinated public-private action is essential to reclaim global dominance.
Why it matters
The plan could reshape the global battery market, influencing EV costs and supply chains worldwide.
In this story
