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Lotte Energy Materials Factory |
[Alpha Biz= Reporter Kim Jisun] Lotte Energy Materials will be the sole domestic supplier of copper foil for the joint venture between Samsung SDI and Stellantis, known as StarPlus Energy (SPE), according to recent updates from the battery industry on the 26th.
StarPlus Energy, the U.S. joint venture, will receive 100% of its copper foil requirements from Lotte Energy Materials. Typically, battery material suppliers undergo a validation period of over a year, but Lotte Energy Materials has been uniquely validated among copper foil manufacturers. The specific order quantities will be adjusted based on actual needs.
Copper foil is a crucial component in secondary batteries, serving as a coating material for anodes. It enhances electrical conductivity and aids in heat dissipation.
SPE is constructing two factories in Kokomo, Indiana, with a total production capacity of 67 gigawatt-hours (GWh). Samsung SDI plans to commence operations of the first 33GWh plant by December this year, ahead of the original Q1 2025 timeline, to secure early funding under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This capacity can produce batteries for approximately 500,000 electric vehicles annually. The second plant, with a capacity of 34GWh, is scheduled to start in 2027.
Alphabiz Reporter Kim SangJin(letyou@alphabiz.co.kr)
