LG Energy Solution Supplies Cylindrical Batteries to US-based Bear Robotics

Photo by LG Energy Solution

LG Energy Solution will supply cylindrical batteries to Bear Robotics, a mobility platform company based on autonomous driving robots, and will engage in technological cooperation to strengthen competitiveness in the global robotics industry.

On the 18th, LG Energy Solution announced that it signed an 'MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) for Battery Cell Supply Contract and Technical Cooperation' with Bear Robotics, headquartered in Silicon Valley, USA.

Establishing a Solid Partnership in the Global Robotics Market

Accordingly, starting next year, LG Energy Solution will exclusively supply cylindrical batteries (21mm diameter, 70mm height) to Bear Robotics' service and industrial robots, such as the serving robot 'Servi Plus' and the logistics autonomous mobile robot (AMR) 'Kati', and will discuss specific collaboration plans including future technological cooperation.

Previously, LG Energy Solution announced its corporate vision, "Empower Every Possibility," stating plans to diversify its product and customer portfolio into future growth potential non-electric vehicle industries such as robots, ships, and urban air mobility (UAM), thereby building a balanced business portfolio.

This supply contract and collaboration are expected to further accelerate the expansion of the business portfolio into new application areas.

Bear Robotics is an AI and autonomous driving robot-based mobility platform startup founded in 2017 in Silicon Valley by CEO Ha Jung-woo, a former Google engineer. From its early days, it was recognized for its high growth potential and received investments from SoftBank, LG Electronics, and domestic private equity firms.

It was the first in the world to develop and start selling serving robots, and based on its competitiveness of providing solutions through 100% autonomous driving and robot control systems, it is actively expanding its business in 20 countries worldwide, including Korea, Japan, and North America. Recently, it expanded into the logistics robot market by launching the logistics autonomous mobile robot (AMR) Kati100.

With advancements in AI (artificial intelligence) and autonomous driving technologies, the utilization of robots is rapidly increasing across service and major industrial sectors. LG Energy Solution and Bear Robotics plan to build a solid partnership in the rapidly growing global robotics market through this battery supply contract and technological cooperation, working together to enhance their competitiveness.

Employees at LG Energy Solution's Ochang plant are showcasing the cylindrical batteries developed by LG Energy Solution. Photo by LG Energy Solution

Cylindrical Battery Competitiveness Expands Beyond Electric Vehicles to Space and Robotics

Through this contract, LG Energy Solution has expanded the supply of cylindrical batteries from electric vehicles to space and robotics. With the full-scale mass production of the game-changing 4680 (46mm diameter, 80mm height) cylindrical battery, supply contracts are increasing. Recently, LG Energy Solution signed a large-scale cylindrical battery supply contract for Mercedes-Benz electric vehicles and will supply cylindrical batteries for SpaceX's space shuttle next year. This contract also marks the full-scale supply of batteries to the service robot sector, which operates in spaces closely connected to consumers' daily lives. In the service robot field, while price competitiveness for popularization is important, having a high level of safety is paramount.

LG Energy Solution's cylindrical batteries have differentiated safety compared to competitors. To enhance safety, they use high-quality NCMA (Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Aluminum) cathode materials with aluminum applied, and apply LG Energy Solution's proprietary patented technology, the ceramic-coated Safety Reinforced Separator (SRS), to further improve safety.

Since first developing cylindrical batteries in 1999, LG Energy Solution has accumulated overwhelming technological leadership in various aspects such as high productivity and quality control capabilities. Recently, it has developed a variety of products including not only the 2170 cylindrical battery but also the 46 series batteries, expanding their application range from notebook PCs to electric bicycles, electric vehicles, and commercial vehicles.

Starting with this collaboration with Bear Robotics, LG Energy Solution plans to actively target the robotics market and expand its business.