POSCO hosted the 2017 Global EV Materials Forum at the Songdo Global R&D Center in Incheon.

POSCO welcomed more than 380 local and overseas customers to the forum where they announced the current status of POSCO Group’s EV projects and strategies. The company also showcased its core EV technologies for high-value-added products such as motors, batteries and lightweight chassis/bodies.

During the forum, POSCO highlighted customer needs, market trends and development statuses in three areas: lightweight materials, traction motor cores and batteries. POSCO researchers also gave presentations on POSCO’s high-value-added products and solutions to share market insights and technological developments with the participants.

Participants listen to presentations at the 2017 Global EV Materials Forum.

In his keynote speech, In-hwan Oh, president of POSCO, said, “POSCO is in full preparation for the future of an electric vehicle ecosystem, to become a reliable partner to our customers.”

There were also external speakers at the forum, including Stephen Zoepf, Executive Director of the Center for Automotive Research at Stanford University, who spoke about “Electric Vehicles: Adapting to a Changing Marketplace.” Another external speaker was Martin Woehrle, senior director of BMW Korea, who gave a presentation on the trends in EV development.

In addition, POSCO held a separate exhibition at the venue consisting of four key product zones: motors, batteries, light-weight chassis/bodies and charging infrastructure. There was also an EV model on display in the Highlight Zone for a better understanding of the structure of EVs.

Visitors examine the electric Nissan Leaf

On display In the lightweight chassis/bodies exhibition zone was POSCO GIGA STEEL for lightweight chassis/bodies, which is lighter but much stronger than existing automotive steel sheets. Also on display was POSCO’s lithium materials for EV batteries; POSCO is the first company in Korea to commercially produce lithium for EV batteries.

In the motor zone was POSCO Daewoo’s a high-efficiency traction motor core for EVs made with POSCO’s Hyper NO, its highest-grade, non-oriented electrical steel. POSCO is already supplying it to major automakers.

The charging infrastructure zone showed POSCO ESM and POSCO Chemtech’s core materials of EV batteries, such as cathode and anode materials. In addition, POSCO ICT is the only company in Korea to provide a total-service electric vehicle charging infrastructure, including supply, installation and operation to membership management and supplementary services.

To close, POSCO pledged to become a “Total Solution Provider” for its partners in the auto industry bracing for the age of electric vehicles with its innovative technology, premium products and customized services.

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Electrical Steel is used to make electric motors for EVs. (Source: Wonderful Engineering)

According to Markets and Markets, the market for electrical steel is projected to expand from USD 27.84 billion in 2016 to USD 38.98 billion by 2021, at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7 percent. Electrical steels go through various demanding production processes such as annealing, hot and cold rolling and insulation coating. Having the most advanced production technology is paramount, and choosing the best quality electrical steel will determine the overall performance and efficiency of EVs.

What is Electrical Steel?

Electrical steel, also known as silicon steel, is a steel alloy of iron and silicon used to make the cores of motors, transformers and generators.  This softer type of steel can generate various magnetic properties, has high permeability and low amounts of core loss. It has a small hysteresis curve, meaning reduced magnetic hysteresis as well as iron losses, or energy loss.

There are two kinds of structures for electrical steel; grain-oriented and non-oriented.

Grain-oriented electrical steel sheets are most commonly applied to transformers. (Source: Nikomag)

Grain-oriented electrical steel has a uniform, consistent direction of grains in its structure which allows for greater flux density and magnetic saturation. Most commonly, grain-oriented electrical steel is used for transformers which have a predictable and specific magnetic field direction.

Non-oriented electrical steel plates are traditionally welded together to form electrical motors. (Source: LHD Motor)

A major factor that determines the quality of electrical steel is minimal core loss. Due to the constant change in direction of the magnetic field, the energy that is created can easily be lost in the form of heat. Core loss reduction has to be achieved through high-quality electrical steels that have high flux density and lower levels of core losses.

POSCO’s Hyper NO

POSCO is one of a growing number of companies dedicated to doing its part in creating an environmentally sustainable future. That’s why POSCO has been developing its premium non-oriented electrical steel to provide partners with material solutions for EVs.

Take a look at the video below to see how Hyper NO can increase the performance and efficiency of electric vehicles.

POSCO’s Hyper NO is processed using innovative methods such as the self-bonding technology which replaces traditional welding procedures to improve the core’s bonding force. POSCO also managed to reduce core loss by 5 percent compared to traditional types of non-oriented electrical steel and reduce the motor noise by 5dB with its rolling technology that can process the Hyper NO down to an ultra-thin form of 0/15mm. These technologies, along with the Hyper NO’s high magnetic flux density will increase the efficiency of the motor and improve the overall performance vehicles to which it is applied. Hyper NO is highly sought after by automakers looking for premium-grade electrical steel to apply to their EV motors.    

In February 2017, POSCO expanded its production facilities at Pohang Steel Works to increase its annual production capacity of electrical steel from 80,000 tons to 160,000 tons, enough to produce 2.6 million motors for EVs. The strategic move is in line with POSCO’s commitment towards expanding environmentally-friendly businesses as well as its solution marketing efforts to provide customized material solutions to its partners.