[Edaily Reporter SOYEON KIM ] The battery industry, which has grown primarily around electric vehicles, is diversifying its customer base to include everything from artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure to humanoid robots and aerospace. Amid a slowdown in the electric vehicle market, this move aims to secure future growth engines by tapping into new demand sources. In particular, in the humanoid robot and aerospace sectors, commercialization achievements are becoming visible, such as securing new clients and supplying battery samples.

According to industry sources on the 3rd, the three major South Korean battery companies—SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD., LG Energy Solution, and SK On—are expanding their business domains beyond electric vehicles and energy storage systems (ESS) into robotics, aerospace, and defense. The industry believes that new growth opportunities are emerging as advancements in AI technology drive a surge in power demand from data centers and as new markets, such as robotics, take shape.

SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. has secured new customers for cylindrical batteries in the humanoid robotics and aerospace sectors. During its third-quarter earnings conference call held on the 29th of last month, SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. announced that it had secured major global companies in both sectors as new business partners. The company projected that battery supply volumes for these new businesses will gradually increase starting next year and are expected to account for more than 10% of its cylindrical battery business revenue by 2028.

The company is also accelerating the development of all-solid-state batteries for humanoid robots. SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. is currently working on humanoid robot projects with multiple clients, aiming to commercialize all-solid-state batteries in the second half of next year. It began supplying all-solid-state battery cell and pack samples to clients in September, and performance evaluations are currently underway. While repeatedly improving and validating performance to meet client requirements, the company is also finalizing product specifications for mass production next year.

LG Energy Solution is also accelerating its push into the humanoid robot market. During its earnings announcement last January, the company revealed that it is supplying cylindrical batteries to more than six major global robot manufacturers. Separately, it is supplying battery samples for next-generation robot models to numerous leading companies and is in discussions regarding product specifications and mass production timelines. The company is also concurrently developing next-generation all-solid-state batteries. The plan is to first commercialize graphite-based all-solid-state batteries for electric vehicles in 2029, followed by the commercialization of anode-free all-solid-state batteries for humanoid robots in 2030.

Led by its next-generation cylindrical battery, the “Tabless 2170,” the company is expanding its applications to include AI infrastructure and robotics. The Tabless 2170 reduces internal resistance and heat generation compared to existing products, thereby improving safety and power output. LG Energy Solution plans to apply this technology to various sectors, including hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), battery backup units (BBUs), and robots. The Ochang plant in North Chungcheong Province is already mass-producing tabless batteries for power tools and is scheduled to begin mass production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) 2170 batteries for BBUs in the second quarter of next year.

Batteries for AI data centers are also emerging as a new growth area. As investment in AI data centers expands, demand is increasing not only for energy storage systems (ESS) but also for battery backup units (BBUs), which provide emergency power to servers. A BBU is a device that immediately supplies stored power in the event of a power outage or power supply disruption to prevent server downtime. As power consumption by AI servers rises, the importance of a stable power supply is also growing.

SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. is diversifying its product lineup by expanding the supply of cylindrical batteries for BBUs. The company is broadening its supply portfolio to include high-output tabless 21700 batteries and LFP batteries, in addition to its existing ternary batteries. SAMSUNG SDI CO.,LTD. forecasts that the BBU market will grow at an average annual rate of approximately 30% through 2030, driven by increased investment in AI data centers.

SK On is positioning the robotics and defense sectors as new growth engines. The company currently supplies nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries for HYUNDAI WIA’s logistics robots (AGVs) and parking robots, among other applications, and also supplies batteries for the “HR-Sherpa,” a multipurpose unmanned robot developed by HYUNDAI ROTEM for military and firefighting use. It is also reported to be in discussions with U.S. and European defense contractors to expand battery supply. The company is seeking new growth opportunities by broadening its application scope to defense equipment that requires high power output and safety, such as unmanned submarines and vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft.

SK On is also pushing for the commercialization of all-solid-state batteries by 2029. Since unmanned defense systems must simultaneously ensure high energy density, power output, and safety within confined spaces, they are considered a promising application area for all-solid-state batteries. There is also speculation that all-solid-state batteries may be adopted in the defense sector first.

The battery industry anticipates that the range of industries requiring batteries will expand further due to advancements in AI technology and the growth of high-tech industries. An industry official stated, “In fields such as humanoids, aerospace, and defense, differentiated technological capabilities—including high power output, lightweight design, and safety—will emerge as key competitive factors,” adding, “Although it will take time to generate actual profits, the three major battery companies are actively seeking new growth opportunities across various industries.”