South Korea Develops New EV Battery: 12-Minute Charge for 800 km Range
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – South Korea has found a solution to a problem frequently encountered with electric vehicles. The discovery is believed to represent a breakthrough for the global automotive industry.
Electric vehicles face a primary issue of limited driving range and lengthy battery charging times. Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), together with LG Energy, have successfully developed battery technology capable of charging quickly to deliver a longer range.
The battery can be charged in 12 minutes for 800 km, exceeding the previous range of 600 km. The researchers developed it using proprietary liquid electrolyte technology that suppresses cohesion, allowing lithium-metal battery performance to improve.
“This research provides the key foundation for overcoming the technical challenges of lithium-metal batteries by understanding the structure of their interfaces. It addresses the greatest obstacle to introducing lithium-metal batteries for electric cars,” said KAIST Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Hee Tak Kim, quoted from the KAIST website on Friday (24/7/2026).
The lithium-metal battery replaces the graphite anode, a component of lithium-ion batteries, with lithium metal.
However, the research encountered a challenge: the emergence of dendrites, which are lithium crystals. These form on the surface of the anode during battery charging.
Dendrites threaten battery lifespan and stability, and can even cause internal short circuits during fast charging.
This occurs because of non-uniform interface cohesion on the lithium metal surface.
To overcome this, the researchers developed a new liquid electrolyte that inhibits cohesion. The liquid electrolyte utilises an anion structure with weak binding affinity to lithium ions (Li+), thereby minimising lithium interface irregularities and suppressing dendrite growth.
This technology resolves the charging speed problem of lithium-metal batteries while maintaining high energy density.