LG ES & Doosan Bobcat to develop batteries for construction vehicles
Under the planned cooperation, LG Energy Solution will provide its lithium-ion battery cells or modules, while Doosan Bobcat will add battery management systems and package them into standard battery packs optimized for compact construction equipment.
Once the first prototypes have been made, the companies also plan to discuss expanding the battery packs and solutions from construction equipment such as loaders and excavators to agricultural and landscaping equipment, including tractors.
“We are pleased to develop battery packs for compact construction equipment on the back of excellent quality and stability of LG Energy Solution’s cells,” said Hyunchul (Charlie) Park, CSO and Executive Vice President of Doosan Bobcat, adding: “We will standardize battery packs for compact construction equipment and provide solutions to major markets such as North America.” He further added that Doosan is looking to expand with further partnerships in the field: “We plan to develop optimal battery packs by collaborating with leading global companies and apply them to various types of compact equipment.”
Beyond this project, Doosan Bobcat specifies that it has already gained experience together with the Chinese lithium-ion battery company CosMX, with whom they developed battery packs with enhanced stability and performance, and have been incorporating these into electric forklifts for sale since last year. The two companies signed a Technical Assistance Agreement to expand their collaboration just last month.
Doosan further set up its own battery research team in January, and has announced intentions to set up an R&D centre in South Korea: “The R&D center, expected to be completed in the second half of this year and located in Pyeongchon, Anyang City, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, will conduct technical validation for battery pack manufacturing.”
In its press release, LG also writes that it is actively looking to expand into “non-EV areas of pursuit,” which in this case, likely refers to cars, as the battery packs will still be used in electric vehicles, even if not ones likely to be seen on the street. Additionally, the company writes: “The company will seek to establish sustainable battery ecosystem in new territories, particularly the new mobility industries such as Urban Air Mobility (UAM) and vessels.”
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