§   Advanced thermal management solution enhances battery safety, performance

§   Synergy with wireless BMS to maximize cooling efficiency

SEOUL -- SK On, a leading global battery and trading company, announced today it will showcase an advanced thermal management solution with SK Enmove at the upcoming battery exhibition to highlight its cutting-edge battery safety technologies.

SK On, in collaboration with its fellow SK Group member company and leading lubricant supplier, SK Enmove, will present immersion cooling technology for electric vehicle (EV) batteries at InterBattery 2025, South Korea’s largest battery exhibition set to take place from March 5-7 at COEX in Seoul.

Immersion cooling refers to a thermal management solution that cools heat-generating components by directly immersing them in thermal fluids.

As for EV batteries, immersion cooling involves circulating electrically insulating thermal fluids inside the battery pack to effectively dissipate heat. Since the coolant directly contacts the battery cells, it can effectively suppress temperature rise compared to indirect cooling systems using air or water.

Immersion cooling allows for lower cell temperatures during fast charging conditions, thanks to its superior heat control. It is also well known for improving battery life by reducing temperature variations between battery cells.

The battery pack incorporating immersion cooling technology, currently being developed by SK On and SK Enmove, highlights enhanced cooling efficiency with an optimized fluid flow structure design that maximizes the contact area between thermal fluids and cells.

SK On plans to take better advantage of immersion cooling by incorporating its wireless battery management system (BMS).

BMS refers to a system that continuously monitors key battery parameters, including temperature, voltage, and current, while managing the charge and discharge performance between cells. It plays a critical role in optimizing both battery performance and lifespan.

Conventional BMS requires wiring harness and connectors, resulting in a more complex battery pack structure and limited space efficiency. In particular, when combined with immersion cooling, the wires were seen as problematic, as they can disrupt the flow of thermal fluids and affect cooling performance.

To address this, SK On came up with an approach where a wireless chip is attached to the cell tabs, with the collected cell data transmitted to the BMS via antennas embedded within the module.

The combination of immersion cooling and wireless BMS ensures the smooth flow of thermal fluids, as there are no wires. It boasts a simple design structure and superb physical stability that reduce the risk of fluid leakage, while improving waterproof performance.

Additionally, energy density can be increased due to the extra space created by the absence of physical wires. The reliability of the product also improves, as it eliminates the risk of wire defects.

The commercialization of wireless BMS is expected to accelerate the adoption of the “Battery Passport,” which refers to a digital record that provides comprehensive information about a battery’s lifecycle, including manufacturing details, usage history, and recycling data. It enables easy data management of battery’s state of charge, cycle life, carbon footprint, and more.

“We expect to see growing demand for wireless BMS and immersion cooling as the importance of safety increases with the rising EV penetration rate,” said Kisoo Park, Head of SK On’s R&D Division. “As we aim to lead in battery safety solutions, SK On will continue to contribute to electrification through technological innovation.”

Meanwhile, SK Enmove, whose goal is to transform into an “Energy Saving Company,” has been strengthening its position in the global immersion cooling market by leveraging its competitive edge in raw materials, backed by a stable supply of high-quality base oils, and its advanced thermal fluid technology optimized for various immersion cooling solutions.

Last year, SK Enmove, in collaboration with Hanwha Aerospace, unveiled the world’s first immersion cooling energy storage system (ESS). By directly immersing the maritime ESS in thermal fluids, it effectively eliminated the risk of fire.

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