The domestic battery industry is expanding its business areas, previously focused on automobiles, to various fields such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM), robotics, ships, and aircraft. As the growth rate of the electric vehicle market is slowing down, the aim is to discover new opportunities and disperse risks. The industry is also accelerating the development of next-generation batteries, including lithium-sulfur batteries and solid-state batteries.
According to the industry on the 1st, LG Energy Solution is developing batteries exclusively for UAM at its Future Technology Center. Next-generation batteries for UAM include lithium-sulfur batteries and solid-state batteries, and LG Energy Solution is working with KAIST to commercialize lithium-sulfur batteries. They are also collaborating with Hanwha Aerospace in the field of UAM batteries.
UAM refers to transportation vehicles that operate 300 to 600 meters above urban areas, with research focused on aircraft (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL)). eVTOL is characterized by its ability to take off and land vertically without a runway, powered by electricity. It must be capable of responding to changes in altitude, temperature variations, and continuous operations, and it should operate stably under extreme conditions.
Batteries for UAM need to be designed to be much lighter than electric vehicle batteries, as the weight of the aircraft is directly linked to fuel efficiency and flight time. Given the high energy consumption from vertical take-off, long-distance flight, and other factors, they must have high energy density and output while ensuring stability.
Samsung SDI is developing batteries specifically for robots in partnership with Hyundai Motor Group. The goal is to tailor the battery shape to fit the internal space of robots and enhance energy density to increase output and operating time. Currently, there are no dedicated batteries for robots, so products used for power tools and small electric vehicles have been integrated. As a result, there is an issue of inadequate performance.
LG Energy Solution has also been collaborating with bear robotics, an autonomous robot company, since November last year. Starting next year, the company will independently supply batteries for the service and industrial robots produced by bear robotics. SK On has secured equity in Yuil Robotics, a robotic automotive systems company, through its U.S. subsidiary SK Battery America (SKBA).
Future electric ships, aircraft, and spacecraft are also considered promising markets. There is a growing trend in introducing electric ships, mainly abroad, focusing on smaller vessels for now. However, industry observations suggest that if solid-state batteries are commercialized, they could be mounted on larger ships. LG Energy Solution is also reported to supply batteries for spacecraft from SpaceX, the space exploration company led by Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla.
The frontrunner in developing the 'dream battery,' the solid-state battery, is Samsung SDI. Samsung SDI aims to commercialize solid-state batteries in the second half of 2027. SK On targets commercialization in 2029, while LG Energy Solution aims for 2030. Solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte between the anode and cathode with a solid, characterized by higher energy density and stability compared to conventional batteries.