Hyundai, Kia, Samsung SDI Partner on High-Performance Robot Batteries

Seoul, South Korea—Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation announced on Tuesday that they signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Samsung SDI to jointly develop high-performance batteries specifically designed for robots.

The partnership aims to address current limitations in the robotics industry.

Most sectors lack dedicated battery solutions and instead rely on batteries designed for power tools or light electric vehicles.

These existing solutions face constraints due to limited installation space in robots and reduced output capacity when using smaller cells.

The collaboration will focus on developing batteries with enhanced energy density, increased output, and extended usage time optimized for the limited spaces available in robot designs.

Hyundai Motor and Kia's Robotics LAB will assess the newly developed batteries' maximum charge and discharge performance, usage time, and qualification life.

Samsung SDI will concentrate on developing high-capacity materials to improve energy density and optimize design for enhanced battery efficiency, which is expected to extend battery usage time and improve price competitiveness.

The companies plan to demonstrate their technology at InterBattery 2025 in Seoul from March 5-7. 

Hyundai Motor and Kia's service robot 'DAL-e' and Mobile Robot 'MobED' will be showcased to industry stakeholders at Samsung SDI's exhibit.

Hyundai Motor and Kia previously deployed delivery robots, automatic electric vehicle charging robots, and facial recognition technology at the 'Factorial Seongsu building in Seoul in June 2024 and announced commercialization plans for their wearable robot 'X-ble Shoulder' in November 2024.