Samsung SDI reports that its all-solid-state battery samples have garnered positive feedback from global customers for their safety features and high energy density. According to Kim Eun-ha, vice president and head of the company’s all-solid-state battery production development group, Samsung SDI is targeting mass production in the second half of 2027 and is conducting performance evaluations with multiple potential clients, including electric vehicle manufacturers and developers of humanoid robots.
Humanoid robot developers are seen as a particularly promising market, given the need for compact, high-density energy storage in confined operating environments. This progress contrasts with statements from several other major battery producers, who have expressed skepticism about the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of large-scale solid-state battery manufacturing in the near term.
In a written interview with the Korea JoongAng Daily, Kim confirmed that the samples under evaluation have been praised for both energy density and safety. This marks the first time a Samsung SDI executive has publicly addressed the company’s solid-state battery technology and its development timeline.
All-solid-state batteries replace the liquid electrolyte found in conventional lithium-ion cells with a solid material, eliminating flammability risks and enabling denser energy storage, longer driving ranges, and faster charging. Despite these advantages, no manufacturer has yet achieved commercial-scale production, and many have scaled back their ambitions due to engineering challenges and high development costs. A recent industry assessment placed one competitor’s solid-state technology readiness at a mid-level stage, with mass production unlikely before 2030.
Samsung SDI has been advancing its development since constructing a dedicated pilot line at its Suwon R&D center in March 2023 and began prototype production later that year. In October 2025, it partnered with an automotive manufacturer and a U.S. technology firm to integrate solid-state cells into test vehicles. These trials aim to validate performance across real-world conditions, including charging behavior, longevity, safety, and stability under temperature extremes.
The company’s battery architecture omits a traditional anode layer to maximize internal volume for active materials, and it employs a silver-carbon coating to promote uniform lithium distribution, enhancing cycle life and safety. For manufacturing, Samsung SDI has adopted a continuous roll-press process to bond electrodes and solid electrolytes, which it expects will improve scalability and reduce costs compared to batch warm isostatic pressing methods.
Current estimates place solid-state battery costs at $400–$600 per kilowatt-hour, significantly above the $81 per kilowatt-hour for lithium-iron-phosphate packs and $128 per kilowatt-hour for nickel-cobalt-manganese packs. Kim anticipates that broader adoption across robotics, IT devices, and other markets will help narrow this price gap over time. Industry forecasts project that battery deployment in humanoid robots could reach 76.1 gigawatt-hours for all-solid-state batteries by 2040.
Source: Korea JoongAng Daily (https://www.koreajoongangdaily.com/business/exclusive-global-clients-give-early-nod-to-samsung-sdis-solidstate-batteries-executive-says/12748083)
