Robots and Drones Replace Electric Vehicles at the Exhibition... A Transformed InterBattery

Upon entering the LG Energy Solution exhibition booth at 'InterBattery 2026', which opened at COEX in Seoul on March 11, a large drone covering an entire wall immediately caught the eye. This product was created in collaboration between LG Energy Solution and the K-Drone Alliance. Samsung SDI announced that it has designated "Solid Stack" as the brand name for its all-solid-state battery, scheduled for mass production in 2027, and highlighted "Physical AI" as its key application area.

On the 11th, drones and robots were exhibited at LG Energy Solution's booth at 'InterBattery 2026,' which opened at COEX in Seoul. Photo by Heejong Kang

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Amid challenges such as the chasm-a temporary stagnation-in the electric vehicle market and uncertainties in the global trade environment, domestic battery companies participated in InterBattery 2026, Korea's largest battery exhibition, and unveiled a wide array of next-generation advanced products set to lead future markets.

Whereas last year K-battery companies focused primarily on showcasing a variety of products suitable for electric vehicles, this year they have expanded into diverse fields such as energy storage systems (ESS), AI data centers, humanoid robots, and urban air mobility (UAM), reaffirming their commitment to overcoming the downturn in the electric vehicle market. At the same time, they showcased next-generation technologies, including 46 mm diameter batteries, all-solid-state batteries, sodium-ion batteries (SIB), and lithium-metal batteries.

LG Energy Solution publicly introduced its 'JF2 DC Link 5.0', an ESS for power grids, as well as its lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based JP6 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) rack and battery backup unit (BBU) solution for data centers for the first time. Robots equipped with LG Energy Solution batteries, such as LG Electronics' 'Cloid' and Bear Robotics' 'Cart 100', also captured the attention of visitors. Additionally, various types of all-solid-state batteries and sulfide-based batteries drew significant interest.

Samsung SDI unveiled its Samsung Battery Box (SBB), an ESS solution equipped with AI diagnostics, and introduced a next-generation prismatic battery that, for the first time in a prismatic cell, achieves both an ultra-high energy density of 700 Wh/L and a high output of 400 W. Samsung SDI also announced at the event that it has named its all-solid-state battery under development "SolidStack" and exhibited it in collaboration with Physical AI.

Samsung SDI introduced its solid-state battery brand, "SolidStack," which is scheduled for mass production in 2027, at InterBattery 2026, held at COEX Seoul on the 11th, in collaboration with Physical AI. Photo by Heejong Kang

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SK On introduced, for the first time in the industry, a large-area cooling-based pouch-type cell-to-pack (CTP) technology and a next-generation thermal management solution applying an immersion cooling system to high-nickel battery packs. At the SK On booth, the 'H-Motion AMR' logistics robot-developed in collaboration with Hyundai Wia-was exhibited, along with sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries, polymer-oxide composite batteries, and lithium-metal batteries.

SK On introduced a logistics robot developed together with Hyundai Wia at the InterBattery 2026 exhibition held at COEX in Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Heejong Kang

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POSCO Future M presented key high-energy-density materials supporting autonomous driving and long-range travel, including ultra-high-nickel and mid-nickel cathode materials, natural and synthetic graphite anode materials, and motor cores. POSCO Future M also drew attention by unveiling a robot jointly developed by AIDIN Robotics and POSCO Holdings at its booth.

At InterBattery 2026, which opened on the 11th at COEX in Seoul, Posco Future M introduced robots developed by Posco Holdings and Aidin Robotics. Photo by Heejong Kang

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EcoPro highlighted its comprehensive product portfolio, ranging from high-nickel cathode materials to lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) cathode materials, sodium-ion battery cathode materials, and materials based on the direct synthesis of LFP.

LN Energy & Frontier publicly disclosed, for the first time, the development status of its third-generation and ultra-high-density LFP cathode materials. Korea Zinc emphasized its capabilities as a supplier of core materials for electric vehicles and ESS by showcasing its copper foil production technology and actual products through its subsidiary KZAM.

Um Ki-chun, Chairman of the Korea Battery Industry Association (and CEO of POSCO Future M), met with reporters at the exhibition and cited recent supply chain risks and expanding protectionism as major challenges, emphasizing, "Cell, material, component, and equipment companies must strengthen their competitiveness as the 'K-Battery One Team' to overcome these crises."

Chairman Um stated, "It is not just price competition, but the strengths of K-batteries lie in technology, quality, reliability, and next-generation technology development capabilities." He also assessed that North America's de-risking from China and shifts in European industrial policy could become new opportunities.

This event featured participation from 667 domestic and international companies across the entire battery value chain, including the three major battery producers as well as material, component, and equipment companies.

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