POSCO has launched a nationwide research initiative to develop next-generation high-efficiency electrical steel for electric vehicle (EV) motors, joining forces with Hyundai Motor Company and eight leading organisations from the automotive, steel, academic and research sectors. The collaborative project aims to accelerate innovation in advanced materials that can significantly improve the energy efficiency and performance of future electric vehicles.
The programme officially commenced with a kick-off meeting held on June 11 at the Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology (RIST) in Pohang. POSCO is leading the multi-partner research effort, which brings together Hyundai Motor Company, SL Corporation, Polepair Electric, RIST, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), the Korea Automotive Technology Institute (KATECH), the University of Ulsan, Pukyong National University and the Korea Metal Materials Research Association (KOMERA).
Supported by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) and managed by the Korea Evaluation Institute of Industrial Technology (KEIT), the project focuses on developing manufacturing technologies for wide electrical steel sheets containing 6.5 percent silicon—a material regarded as one of the most promising solutions for next-generation high-efficiency electric drive motors.
Electrical steel is a critical component in EV motors because it directly influences energy conversion efficiency. Increasing silicon content reduces iron loss, which occurs during high-speed motor operation, thereby improving overall motor performance and extending vehicle driving range. However, producing electrical steel with high silicon content presents major manufacturing challenges due to increased brittleness, making it difficult to process into thin, wide sheets suitable for large-scale industrial applications.
The consortium aims to overcome these technical barriers by developing commercially viable manufacturing processes while validating the performance of the new material in actual electric vehicle drive motors. The project encompasses the entire value chain, from advanced material development and motor core manufacturing to complete drive motor production and vehicle-level performance evaluation.
Following the launch of the programme, all participating organisations signed a multilateral memorandum of understanding to establish an integrated research framework that promotes collaboration across industry, academia and research institutions. The partnership is expected to accelerate technology development while ensuring the practical application of the advanced electrical steel in commercial EV platforms.
Cho Myung-jong, Head of the Future Steel R&D Center at POSCO, said the collaboration represents an important milestone in bringing together the steel and future mobility industries to support the transition toward electrified transportation. He noted that POSCO will focus on developing advanced materials and component technologies that improve energy efficiency while maximising collaboration among all project partners.
Through the initiative, POSCO aims to strengthen the competitiveness of South Korea’s steel and automotive industries while securing leadership in advanced electrical steel technologies. The successful commercialisation of high-silicon electrical steel is expected to support the development of more efficient electric vehicles, enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities and reinforce the country’s position in the rapidly expanding global EV market.
