South Korean battery maker Samsung SDI announced it will begin manufacturing prismatic lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for stationary energy storage applications in the United States. The company will convert some existing lines at its EV manufacturing plant in Indiana to make ESS batteries.
Samsung currently operates out of the StarPlus Energy factory in Kokomo, Indiana. The site is a joint-venture between Samsung and Stellantis and was initially estimated to have a 34-GWh annual production capacity.
Samsung SDI’s prismatic LFP cells for ESS are packed in a 20-ft container, named the Samsung Battery Box (SBB) 2.0. The company launched the first edition of SBB with its flagship NCA cells in 2023. By expanding its portfolio into LFP technology, Samsung SDI is poised to strengthen its differentiated technological edge and further accelerate the global expansion of its prismatic batteries for ESS.
Compared to ESS using other types of LFP cells, Samsung SDI says its prismatic LFP cells are more resistant to external shocks due to the aluminum casing with safety design features like vents and fuses. There has been growing preference for prismatic cells from both EV and ESS sectors for safety reasons.
By using the prismatic cells, SBB features proprietary No Thermal Propagation (No TP) technology — preventing heat from spreading to adjacent cells by placing thermal insulation materials between cells and measuring the temperature of a specific cell through a prediction program.
Samsung SDI will be the only non-Chinese manufacturer of prismatic LFP batteries operating in the United States.
