U.S. Materials Developer Enters South Korea to Extend Electric Vehicle Battery Life
Seoul, Monday, 12 October 2026.
On October 12, 2026, Ten-Nine Technologies partnered with MIN N JUNE Chemical to deploy TENIX in South Korea, introducing a battery additive that extends electric vehicle lifespans beyond 426,000 kilometers.
A Strategic Gateway into South Korea’s Battery Ecosystem
On October 12, 2026, Tulsa, Oklahoma-based materials developer Ten-Nine Technologies officially entered into a strategic agreement with South Korean distributor MIN N JUNE Chemical Co., Ltd. [1][2]. Neither entity is publicly traded on equity exchanges, leaving ticker symbols unavailable for public market tracking [alert! ‘Ticker symbols unavailable as both entities are privately held companies’]. Under the terms of the agreement, Seoul-based MIN N JUNE Chemical—which was established in 2004—will serve as the exclusive commercial and technical representative for Ten-Nine Technologies in South Korea [1][2]. The distributor is tasked with managing customer engagement, coordinating initial product samplings, facilitating pilot testing, navigating regulatory compliance, and driving eventual commercialization for battery producers, cathode manufacturers, and automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) [1][2].
A Strategic Gateway into South Korea’s Battery Ecosystem
The international expansion directly targets South Korea’s critical role in the global energy transition network [1][2]. Key market participants operating in the region include LG Energy Solution, POSCO, EcoPro BM, L&F, and Umicore, many of whom are aggressively scaling Lithium Manganese-Rich (LMR) cathode active materials [1][2]. Commenting on the agreement, Paige Johnson, CEO and founder of Ten-Nine Technologies, emphasized that MIN N JUNE brings established industry relationships and technical expertise to accelerate adoption [1][2]. Jeong-Gil Suh, President at MIN N JUNE, further noted that LG Energy Solution pioneered LMR technology alongside General Motors, underscoring the strong potential for TENIX integration across domestic cathode pipelines [1][2].
Unlocking Longevity and Cost Efficiency via Nanotechnology
At the center of the partnership is TENIX, a proprietary nano-additive engineered to serve as an ‘anti-aging’ agent within lithium-ion cathodes [1][2]. The material represents just 0.5% to 2% of the total cathode weight, yet it integrates directly into existing manufacturing lines without requiring line redesigns or capital expenditure for new infrastructure [1][2]. Third-party validation in standard 21700 battery cells confirmed that TENIX delivers over 75% more charge-discharge cycles across various lithium-ion cathode chemistries, significantly delaying cell degradation [1][2].
Unlocking Longevity and Cost Efficiency via Nanotechnology
From an economic and operational perspective, the performance figures translate into measurable financial advantages for electric vehicle manufacturers and end-users alike [1][2]. The technology extends the operational lifetime of a typical EV battery from 150,000 miles to over 265,000 miles (approximately 426475.1 kilometers) [1][2]. Concurrently, third-party testing indicates a 10% reduction in internal cell resistance—which decreases heat generation and enables faster charging rates—as well as a 40% reduction in total lifetime heat output [1][2]. Over the complete lifecycle of the cell, these improvements generate an estimated 40 percent reduction in the cost per kilowatt-hour [1][2].
Roadmap to Commercialization
The commercial groundwork laid by MIN N JUNE Chemical provides Ten-Nine Technologies with direct access to South Korea’s premier cell manufacturers [1][2]. MIN N JUNE maintains long-standing partnerships with industry titans including LG Energy Solution, Samsung, and SK On, to whom it currently supplies anode materials [1][2]. As of October 12, 2026, the two companies have commenced joint operational efforts to guide target customers through structured evaluation phases, moving from laboratory testing to pilot scale deployment across South Korea’s electric vehicle and energy storage sectors [1][2].