EcoPro targets humanoid robotics market with new battery materials

EcoPro BM, the cathode-producing subsidiary of South Korea’s EcoPro, is pivoting toward one of tech’s most hyped frontiers: humanoid robots. The company announced on September 6 its intention to supply battery materials specifically engineered for humanoid robotics. Goldman Sachs projects the humanoid robot market will hit $38 billion by 2035, with more than 1.4 million units shipping annually. Why batteries are the bottleneck EcoPro’s pitch centers on its high-nickel ternary cathodes, materials with nickel content exceeding 90%. These NCM and NCA chemistries pack significantly more energy per kilogram than the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries that dominate cheaper applications like stationary storage. For a robot, the practical upside is straightforward: lighter batteries mean less strain on joint actuators, which means longer operating times and more natural movement. Solid-state ambitions on a real timeline EcoPro isn’t stopping at conventional lithium-ion cathodes. The company has spent four years developing components for all-solid-state batteries, including sulfide-based solid electrolytes, optimized cathode materials, and lithium-metal anodes. Its pilot facility curren...