The company will lead the project as the main R&D institution, working alongside domestic automakers, automotive suppliers, and research organizations.
The kick-off meeting for the national R&D project titled “Development of 6.5% silicon wide electrical steel sheets and core and traction motor manufacturing technologies to enhance electric vehicle efficiency” was held on June 11 at the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) in Pohang. The meeting marked the official launch of the project.
A total of 10 organizations are participating in the initiative, including Hyundai Motor Company, SL Corporation, Polepair Electric, RIST, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), the University of Ulsan, Pukyong National University, and the Korea Metal Materials Research Association (KOMERA).
Supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and managed by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the project aims to develop production technology for 6.5% silicon electrical steel sheets, a key material for high-efficiency motors, and to verify the material’s performance in actual electric vehicle traction motors.
Electrical steel sheets play a critical role in motor efficiency. Increasing the silicon content helps reduce iron loss during high-speed rotation, improving energy efficiency. However, higher silicon content also makes the steel more brittle, creating challenges in the production of wide and thin sheets. As a result, standardizing mass production of this material remains a significant technical challenge for global steelmakers.
Following the kick-off meeting, participating organizations signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding. Under the agreement, an integrated R&D system covering the entire value chain will be established, from raw material development and core manufacturing to traction motor production and real-vehicle testing. This approach will enable the applicability of the developed material to be evaluated not only in laboratory conditions but also in real electric vehicles.
Cho Myung-jong, Head of POSCO’s Future Steel R&D Center, stated that the collaboration represents an important milestone in the electrification of the steel and mobility industries. He emphasized that cooperation among industry, academia, and research institutions will be maximized through a focus on high-value-added materials and component technologies.
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