The global electric vehicle (EV) market is expected to expand to 226 million units by 2030. As a result, the demand for battery modules and packs, which are essential components for EVs, is naturally increasing. Additionally, other sectors such as energy storage systems (ESS), maritime vessels, urban air mobility (UAM), construction equipment, and agricultural machinery are also adopting electrification, leading to an explosive rise in battery demand. 

With the rapid advancement of electrification in large devices, industry attention is shifting from battery cells to modules and packs. Those interested in the development of secondary batteries will find it increasingly difficult to understand the industry with knowledge solely focused on cell manufacturing. 

The processes and equipment required for module and pack manufacturing differ from those for cells. Charging and discharging equipment used for cells are referred to as formation equipment, while those used for modules and packs are called cyclers. 

The roles of these two types of equipment differ significantly. Formation equipment activates cells and imparts electrical characteristics, whereas cyclers balance cells and modules during the manufacturing process and also test the performance and safety of used batteries. Cyclers require a higher level of technology compared to formation equipment. Although the demand for these devices is expected to grow, there are currently very few companies supplying cycler equipment domestically, making it likely that demand will exceed supply. 

In this context, Onbridge is developing cyclers for testing EV battery modules and packs, industrial ESS, and vehicle ESS. By utilizing the latest digital technologies, Onbridge aims to reduce the time and cost associated with data extraction equipment and provide an easy-to-use interface for non-experts. The company has successfully reduced the time and cost required by 25-50%. 

The CEO of Onbridge stated, “With the rapid growth in demand for battery modules and packs in line with advancements in secondary battery technology, high-voltage cycler equipment is becoming essential. We plan to focus all our efforts on equipment production starting in 2024.”