South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Co. has embarked on the process to produce its own electric vehicle (EV) battery as it has joined hands with U.S. quantum computing company IonQ to initiate research on the development of more efficient and safer EV battery, using quantum-powered chemistry simulation.

Under the partnership, Hyundai Motor and IonQ aim to develop the most advanced battery chemistry model yet developed on quantum computers, according to Hyundai Motor on Thursday.

With the simulation process, the two partners aim to improve the durability, capacity and safety of EV batteries used in the Korean auto giant’s cars.

IonQ is a pure-play quantum computing company backed by Samsung Electronics, Hyundai Motor and other global tech leaders that is trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Its quantum systems are available through direct API access, Amazon Braket, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

Hyundai Motor has been actively seeking ways to improve the efficiency and safety of EV batteries currently supplied by the country’s big three battery majors LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation and Samsung SDI, as well as China’s CATL.

The latest move is expected to pave the way for the auto maker’s inroad into self-development and production of EV batteries.

By Seo Jin-woo and Lee Ha-yeon

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