A research team applied the friction stir welding technique, which involves attaching metallic parts by liquidizing them without adding any heat. (image: Korea Institute of Industrial Technology)
CHEONAN, Apr. 16 (Korea Bizwire) — Korean-made lightweight battery housing parts will be used in Jaguar Land Rover’s electric cars.
The Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) said it has made us of friction stir welding to successfully manufacture battery housings for electric vehicles.
A battery housing is a box-shaped part that covers the battery module to protect it from external shock.
While most battery housings use steel, the new product uses aluminum alloy, which weighs only one third of steel-made products.
In the manufacturing process, a research team led by senior researcher Lee Kwang-jin at KIIT applied the friction stir welding technique, which involves attaching metallic parts by liquidizing them without adding any heat.
This eco-friendly technique does not emit metallic gas or other harmful substances during the process. It also prevents holes or cracks commonly found in other products from being created.
Successful manufacturing of the aluminum battery-housing would not have been possible without the assistance of other companies, the KIIT said.
Daejoo Kores Co. built a manufacturing plant for battery housings, producing the overall design of the product as well as supplying extruded aluminum materials.
Weld junctions were fortified to overcome mechanical limitations and improved the ‘post-heat treatment’ process to ensure strength against tension, impact, and fatigue to minimize deformation by less than 2 millimeters.
The creators of the new battery housing have also succeeded in mass production.
The new battery housing will be exported to an LG Chem Ltd.’s electric car battery production plant in Poland where it will be installed in the I-Pace, Jaguar Land Rover’s most popular electric car.
“Demand will only increase,” said Lee. “We will continue to improve our technology to cover not just the battery housing, but also the fillet area located in the rear side of the housing.”
Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)
