Samsung SDI has become the first battery manufacturer in South Korea to start mass-producing the next-generation “46-phi” cylindrical battery.
On Monday, the company announced that it recently shipped its 4695 battery module (46mm in diameter, 95mm in height) from its Vietnamese facility.
The Vietnamese facility assembles the 4695 battery cells, produced at the Cheonan plant in South Korea, into modules. The initial batch will be supplied to a U.S. customer for micro-mobility applications.
Samsung SDI has launched mass production of the 46-phi battery over a year ahead of schedule. The new battery incorporates high-capacity, high-nickel NCA (nickel, cobalt, and aluminum) cathode materials and the company’s patented SCN (silicon-carbon nanocomposite) anode materials.
These innovations minimize battery swelling while boosting energy density and extending battery life. The company has also implemented a tabless technology, creating multiple tabs at the electrode ends to expand current pathways. This technology reduces internal resistance by approximately 90% and enhances overall output.
The new 46-phi battery boasts an energy capacity more than six times that of the existing 21700 cylindrical battery (21mm in diameter, 70mm in height).
Samsung SDI plans to expand the supply of 46-phi batteries to the EV market through discussions with major electric vehicle manufacturers.
A Samsung SDI spokesperson said, “The mass production and initial supply of the 46-phi battery significantly diversifies our product portfolio. We aim to secure market leadership through our differentiated manufacturing capabilities and superior quality.”