LG Energy Solution, Doosan Bobcat to Co-develop Battery for Small Heavy Equipment

Wedoany.com Report-Mar 19, LG Energy Solution and Doosan Bobcat have joined hands to develop battery pack solutions for small construction equipment, the companies said Wednesday.

Doosan Bobcat's all-electric compact tract loader T7X

Under the partnership, LG Energy Solution’s cylindrical battery products will be loaded onto Doosan Bobcat’s project to turn its existing models into all-electric models. The two Korean firms will also cooperate in codeveloping standardized battery packs that could be expanded to various models later and targeting important global markets including North America.

Besides common construction equipment such as skid-steer loaders and excavators, the companies decided to carry out business discussions to develop batteries for agricultural and landscaping maintenance products.

Doosan Bobcat, the world’s biggest small construction equipment manufacturer, set up a unit dedicated to electrification in January this year as it began pushing for automation. The company plans to open an automation research and development center that can test battery pack technologies in the second half of this year.

“By standardizing battery packs for small construction equipment, we will provide solutions to global markets such as the North American region, which is the biggest market worldwide,” Park Hyun-chul, chief strategy officer and vice president at Doosan Bobcat.

LG Energy Solution has been actively seeking to bolster its business portfolio beyond electric vehicles to offer solutions in sectors such as energy storage systems, electric motorcycles and electric tools. Based on the collaboration with Doosan Bobcat, the battery maker plans to expand its business areas into new mobility areas such as ships and aircraft.

“We will continue to push for the first and best challenges to lead automation markets for various applications,” said Oh Yoo-seong, senior vice president of LG Energy Solution’s head of mobility and IT battery division.