ESS and Robots Take Center Stage Over EVs... K-Battery Giants Face Off at InterBattery 2026

Held at COEX in Seoul from March 11 to 13
A Wide Array of Next-Generation Products Unveiled
ESS, Data Centers, Robots, and Drones Take Center Stage Amid EV Market Slowdown

From March 11 to 13, Korea’s leading battery companies will gather at COEX in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, for “InterBattery 2026,” the country’s largest secondary battery exhibition, showcasing their technological advancements.

Amid a slowdown in the growth of the electric vehicle (EV) market, Korean battery firms plan to highlight a diverse range of products, including energy storage systems (ESS), artificial intelligence (AI) data centers, robots, and drones.

This year, ESS is the product category most emphasized by Korea’s three major battery companies. Since the launch of the second Trump administration and the resulting challenges in the North American EV market, K-battery companies are focusing on the ESS market.

In particular, as Chinese lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which have dominated the North American market, are expected to lose influence due to tariffs targeting China, Korean battery firms are responding by converting ternary production lines to LFP lines and other market strategies.

Cutting-Edge Products Unveiled for ESS and AI Data Center Markets

LG Energy Solution, which has secured the largest exhibition space among the participants at 540m² (about 163 pyeong), will present batteries for power grid, industrial/commercial, and data center applications designed to meet surging power demand driven by the expansion of AI and renewable energy.

For grid applications, the company will display “JF2 DC Link 5.0,” an ESS solution tailored to Korea’s power infrastructure and regulatory environment. This product is designed specifically for Korean infrastructure and regulations and, for the first time in Korea, is equipped with LFP batteries to enhance fire safety. For AI data centers, LG Energy Solution will unveil, also for the first time in Korea, a next-generation rack system for JP6 UPS powered by LFP batteries and a Battery Backup Unit (BBU) solution featuring high-power cylindrical batteries.

Samsung SDI will feature battery solutions for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and Battery Backup Units (BBU) at the center of its booth. The company’s “U8A1” UPS battery employs a prismatic battery form factor with lithium manganese oxide (LMO) material, delivering both high power and safety. Last year, at “The Smarter E Europe,” Europe’s largest energy exhibition, Samsung SDI was the only Korean company to be selected as an “Award Winner.”

The BBU battery solution, being unveiled for the first time at this exhibition, features ultra-high power, high-capacity cylindrical batteries. These batteries can be directly connected to servers, providing rapid and immediate response during power peaks and extending data storage time in the event of a power outage.

Samsung SDI will also exhibit its entire “Samsung Battery Box (SBB)” product lineup, an integrated ESS battery solution first launched in 2023. The SBB fills a 20-foot container with prismatic nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) or LFP batteries, and incorporates advanced technologies such as proprietary enhanced direct injection (EDI) modules, cell fault pre-diagnosis, and automatic lifespan measurement, ensuring both safety and long life.

Additionally, Samsung SDI will showcase its AI-based fire prevention software, “Samsung Battery Intelligence (SBI),” for the first time at this year’s exhibition.

At this event, SK On will highlight its high-energy-density LFP pouch battery for ESS applications. This product matches the global trend toward higher-capacity cells in the ESS market, and the company is working to raise energy density from the current 350-450Wh/L to around 500Wh/L. SK On aims to simultaneously improve battery lifespan and output by increasing electrode density, optimizing internal space, and refining production processes.

SK On will also unveil safety technology. For the first time in the industry, the company will introduce a container-type ESS DC block equipped with a preventive and diagnostic system based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). This system analyzes internal battery resistance and reaction characteristics to predict micro-defects and degradation stages early, and is designed so that only modules with abnormal signs need to be replaced, improving maintenance convenience and cost-effectiveness.

Competition Heats Up for Next-Generation Markets such as Robots and Drones

At this exhibition, Korean battery companies are also targeting next-generation battery markets such as humanoids and drones.

LG Energy Solution’s booth will feature LG Electronics’ home robot “LG CLOiD” and Bear Robotics’ autonomous robot “Carti100.” These displays are intended to highlight the versatility of LG Energy Solution’s high-performance cylindrical batteries for both household and industrial applications.

In addition, drones for blood transport and aviation-cube satellites developed in partnership with the K-Drone Alliance will be showcased.

In the Future Technology Zone, LG Energy Solution will present its next-generation battery technology portfolio, including all-solid-state batteries, lithium-metal batteries, bipolar batteries, and sodium batteries.

In the Mobility Zone, the company will unveil LMR batteries for the first time, and also introduce software and AI-based battery diagnosis and prediction technology for EVs. This battery, jointly developed with GM, won the “Battery Innovation Award” at North America’s Battery Show 2025 last year.

SK On will display Hyundai WIA’s autonomous mobile robot (AMR) equipped with high-nickel ternary batteries. This robot is already being used for logistics automation at industrial sites such as Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA).

SK On will also showcase next-generation technologies, including sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries (at the 1000Wh/L level), polymer oxide composite batteries, lithium-metal batteries, and ultra-fast charging technology capable of charging from 10% to 80% in just 7 minutes. The company will also present immersion cooling technology being jointly developed with SK Enmove.

Samsung SDI is targeting next-generation markets such as robots and drones with its all-solid-state batteries. At this exhibition, Samsung SDI will introduce its all-solid-state battery, currently under development and scheduled for mass production in the second half of 2027. The company plans to deploy all-solid-state batteries in a variety of physical AI applications, including humanoids, mobile robots, and industrial robots.

POSCO Future M InterBattery 2026 Bird's Eye View. POSCO Future M

Among materials companies, POSCO Future M will feature ultra high-nickel cathode materials with nickel content exceeding 95% and lithium iron phosphate cathode materials. In addition, the company will present the development status and mid- to long-term roadmap for next-generation materials such as cathode materials for all-solid-state batteries and silicon anode materials, which are attracting attention in next-generation industries such as robotics.

POSCO Future M will also introduce the current status of joint research and development with Factorial, a U.S. all-solid-state battery company. The two companies will deliver a joint keynote speech on battery materials research and development strategy at 11:00 a.m. on March 12, during InterBattery 2026.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.