POSCO Develops High-Efficiency Electrical Steel Sheets to Improve EV Energy Efficiency

Ten Industry-Academia-Research Organizations Including Hyundai Motor Participate
Challenge to Localize 6.5% Silicon Wide Electrical Steel
Securing Key Materials to Enhance Electric Vehicle Motor Efficiency

POSCO is embarking on the development of high-efficiency electrical steel sheets that can contribute to improving electric vehicle energy efficiency (EV fuel efficiency).

POSCO officials held a kickoff meeting for collaboration on next-generation electric steel sheet technology with representatives from 10 industry-academic-research institutions, including Hyundai Motor Company, at the Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) on the 11th, and are posing for a commemorative photo. Photo by POSCO

POSCO announced on June 11 that it held a kickoff meeting at the Pohang Institute of Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) for the project titled "Development of 6.5% Silicon Wide Electrical Steel Sheet and High-Efficiency Core and Drive Motor Manufacturing Technologies for Electric Vehicles," marking the start of joint research and development.

This project is part of the "Specialized Steel Sheet Technology Development Project for Core Automotive Components," supported by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT). POSCO is leading the project, with Hyundai Motor Company, SL, Polfair Electric, as well as research institutes and universities, making up a total of 10 participating organizations.

The core of the research is to secure manufacturing technology for wide electrical steel sheets containing 6.5% silicon, a key material for high-efficiency electric motors, and to verify the effect on improved energy efficiency by applying this material to electric vehicle drive motors.

Electrical steel with higher silicon content can reduce power loss (iron loss) that occurs during the high-speed rotation of motors, thereby increasing efficiency. However, as the silicon content increases, the material becomes more brittle, making it more prone to breakage and making the production and processing of large-area sheets more difficult.

The participating organizations signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the same day and agreed to conduct research by linking the entire process from material development to core fabrication and drive motor manufacturing.

Jo Myungjong, Head of the Future Steel Research Institute at POSCO, stated, "We will focus our capabilities on developing advanced materials and component technologies that improve energy efficiency and strengthen collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutes."

Through this project, POSCO aims to secure competitiveness in high-efficiency electrical steel technology and to strengthen the value chain competitiveness of the domestic steel and automotive industries.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.