Posco has launched a collaborative research project with Hyundai Motor, SL Corporation and academic partners to develop high-silicon electrical steel for next-generation electric vehicle motors.
The initiative is supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and coordinated by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). The consortium also includes several research institutes and universities.
The partners have signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly advance the material toward commercial application in electric vehicles.
Focus on High-Efficiency Motors
The project centers on developing electrical steel containing 6.5% silicon, a material designed to improve the efficiency of electric motors by reducing iron losses in their magnetic cores.
While higher silicon content can improve motor performance, it also makes the material more brittle, creating manufacturing challenges for thin and large-format steel sheets.
To address these issues, the consortium will develop both the material and the associated production processes for motor cores and electric drive units. The technology will also be evaluated in near-production electric powertrains.
Supporting Electrification
Electrical steel is a critical component in electric motors, making advances in the material important for improving vehicle efficiency and competitiveness.
Cho Myung-jong, Head of the Future Steel R&D Center at Posco, said:
“This collaboration represents a pivotal turning point where the steel and future mobility industries join forces to usher in the era of electrification.”
The project also supports Posco’s broader strategy to expand its presence across the electric mobility supply chain.
Earlier this year, the company signed a multi-year agreement to supply up to 25,000 tonnes of lithium concentrate from Argentina to battery manufacturer SK On for use in electric vehicle batteries and stationary energy storage systems, strengthening its position as a supplier of both battery and electric motor materials.