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Hyundai Motor revealed on Thursday, Jan. 20, that it has inked a deal with IonQ, a US-based quantum computing hardware, and software company. The partnership is for the companies to develop next-generation batteries for vehicles.
As per The Korea Herald, with the team up, Hyundai Motor will be able to make use of IonQ’s quantum computers to create innovative, high-quality lithium batteries that will offer better energy efficiency. The target is also to produce high-performance batteries that cost less.
The South Korean automaker said that the quantum-powered simulation is expected to greatly enhance the quality of its lithium batteries by working on improving the devices’ charge and discharge cycles. They will also work on making the products’ durability, capacity, and safety better.
“This creative collaboration with IonQ is expected to provide innovation in the development of basic materials in virtual space for various parts of the future mobility,” Hyundai Motor Group’s executive vice president and head of materials and engineering center, TaeWon Lim, said in a press release. “We are excited to step into the upcoming quantum era and take advantage of the opportunities that await with more effective battery power.”
The company added that its collaboration with IonQ is an important part of helping achieve Hyundai Motor’s strategic goals for 2025. It mentioned that one of the aims is to sell 560,000 units of electric vehicles per year. It is also aiming to introduce more than 12 battery electric vehicle (BEV) models to the customers.
With IonQ, the automaker is also looking to achieve a milestone for fighting the threat of climate change since EVs play a big role in attaining its global sustainability targets. IonQ will also provide Hyundai Motor with faster processing of composite molecular structures and chemical reactions on quantum computers.
Likewise, Reuters reported that having a better battery technology is the answer to expanding and advancing the use of EVs. Many researchers and experts in the field also think that quantum computers could surely operate millions of times faster compared to the existing supercomputers being used these days.
