A dancing humanoid robot is pictured at a robot company in Shenzhen,south China‘s Guangdong Province, June 25, 2025. (Xinhua/Li An)
With China’s humanoid robot industry booming, battery technology has emerged as a limiting factor in performance, prompting some tech companies to develop more advanced batteries tailored to robotic needs.
Humanoid robots are venturing into diverse areas of our lives, from transporting parts in factories and participating in marathons to playing football and even boxing in the ring.
However, with a current endurance of just around two hours, humanoid robots fall significantly short of meeting the demands of more complex future tasks.
According to the Institute of Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the energy consumption of robots mainly comes from mechanical movement, especially the lifting in the vertical direction and the rapid acceleration movements.
For example, when a robot performs a backflip, it may appear effortless, but it actually demands exceptionally high battery performance. The instantaneous discharge rate required can exceed 100 times that of ordinary batteries in daily use.
An insufficient discharge rate affects the robot’s performance, while a heavy battery reduces its flexibility, and low capacity limits its practical use. These issues have become significant challenges for robotics companies.
EngineAI Robotics Technology Co., Ltd., located in south China’s tech hub Shenzhen,released an impressive robot dance video in March this year. In the video, the company’s PM01 robot flawlessly performed the Axe Gang Dance from Stephen Chow’s classic film “Kung Fu,” capturing the dance’s spirit with remarkable accuracy.
Zhang Nan, a hardware engineer at EngineAI, said that ternary lithium batteries are currently widely used in humanoid robots, and several existing products of EngineAI robots are also equipped with such batteries.
However, such lithium batteries have poor performance in thermal stability. With the development of humanoid robots, solid-state batteries with higher energy density, smaller size and better safety may be the future. “EngineAI is currently in contact with solid-state battery manufacturers for preliminary research,” Zhang said.
X Square Robot also faces similar challenges. Wang Qian, founder of the company, said that the company’s goal is to have robots take over simple and tedious physical tasks, from electronic assembly work in factories and restaurant service to everyday household chores, making general-purpose robots an indispensable part of people’s lives.
The batteries currently used by X Square Robot include ternary lithium batteries and lithium iron phosphate batteries. Their common problem is the low energy density, which affects the overall endurance of the robots. For robots to enter homes and other future application scenarios with high activity levels, they need batteries with higher energy density and, most importantly, maximum safety, Wang explained.
This year’s government work report outlined plans to develop future industries like embodied intelligence, highlighting the humanoid robot sector as a key focus. According to the Chinese Institute of Electronics, by 2030, the market size of China’s humanoid robots is expected to reach about 870 billion yuan (about 121 billion U.S. dollars).
The swift response has come from tech companies, which are becoming the driving force behind innovation in the country. Some battery manufacturers have recognized this emerging demand and have already partnered with humanoid robot companies for research and development.
For instance, in June, battery giant CATL invested in Beijing-based Galbot, aiming to develop batteries for humanoid robots and to introduce robots into its production lines to achieve factory production automation.
BTR New Material Group, a Shenzhen-basedbattery supplier, in May launched the FLEX semi-solid and GUARD all-solid-state batteries tailored for humanoid robots. The company has achieved a balance between high performance and lightweight design through two major strategies: material innovation and structural optimization.
For instance, the FLEX series’ high-nickel ternary cathodes use molecular-level in-situ coating technology, which can effectively increase the energy density. The GUARD series uses a lithium-rich manganese-based cathode and a lithium metal anode design, which significantly increases the energy density of the individual cell.
According to Li Zikun, director of the company’s research institute, the mainstream ternary lithium batteries have shortcomings in terms of energy density, safety and stability, and high-rate discharge performance for humanoid robots. Solid-state batteries can better meet these needs.
Li believes that batteries for future humanoid robots should meet three key requirements: a balance between high energy density and safety, optimized fast charging and discharging efficiency, and stability and reliability under special working conditions.
The all-solid-state battery eliminates the risk of leakage and fire associated with traditional liquid electrolytes, providing a safety guarantee for use under extreme conditions, he said.
These high-energy-density designs can not only support the long-endurance needs of humanoid robots, but are also particularly suitable for increasing the payload in special application scenarios such as aerospace, Li added.
Key Battery Technologies for Humanoid Robotics: A Comparative analysis
| Feature | Ternary Lithium Batteries | Solid-State Batteries | Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries | FLEX Semi-Solid Batteries | GUARD All-Solid-State Batteries |
| ——————- | ————————————————————————– | —————————————————————————- | ———————————————————— | —————————————————————————– | ————————————————————————– |
| Current Use | Widely used in current humanoid robots, including EngineAI’s PM01.| Emerging technology; preliminary research and development phases. | Used by X Square Robot; frequently enough found in consumer electronics. | Launched by BTR New Material Group, focusing on humanoid robots. | Launched by BTR New Material Group, specifically for humanoid robots. |
| energy Density | Relatively lower; energy density limitations impacts robot endurance. | Higher potential for increased energy density, leading to longer operation times. | Lower energy density. | Enhanced via high-nickel ternary cathodes with in-situ coating technology. | Considerably improved with lithium-rich manganese-based cathode design. |
| Safety | Susceptible to thermal instability. | Enhanced safety due to the elimination of liquid electrolytes. | Generally considered safer than ternary lithium batteries. | Improved with molecular-level in-situ coating technology on cathodes. | Significantly safer due to elimination of liquid electrolytes. |
| discharge rate | May struggle to meet the high instantaneous demands of complex movements.| Potential for optimized fast charging and discharging efficiency. | Adequate for simpler robotic tasks.| Capable of supporting high-rate discharge for complex robotic movements. | Supports high-rate discharge, suitable for demanding robotic applications. |
| Stability | Performance affected by thermal instability. | Improved thermal stability and reliability under special working conditions. | Relatively stable.| Offers enhanced stability. | Increased Stability under extreme robotic conditions.|
| Size & Weight | Can limit flexibility and movement in robots due to overall weight. | Potential for reduced size, contributing to more agile robot designs. | Heavier than other options. | Designed to achieve a balance between lightweight design and high performance.| Lightweight design is part of the production process |
| Manufacturers | Widely available; used by various robotics companies | Development ongoing,partnerships such as with CATL and Galbot | Widely available,commonly found in various devices | BTR New Material Group | BTR New Material Group |
| Potential for Robotics | Widely used for various robot applications.| Excellent for more complex applications. | Good for basic tasks. | Excellent for more complex applications. | Highly recommended for use in heavy-duty applications. |
FAQ: Addressing Reader Questions on Humanoid Robot Batteries
Q: What are the main challenges in powering humanoid robots?
A: The primary challenge is battery technology. Existing batteries, such as ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate batteries, have limitations in energy density, which directly impacts a robot’s endurance. Additionally, the rapid acceleration and complex movements required by humanoid robots demand high discharge rates. moreover, factors like weight and safety pose additional challenges.
Q: Why are solid-state batteries considered a promising solution?
A: solid-state batteries are gaining traction because they offer several advantages over conventional batteries. They have the potential for significantly higher energy density, allowing robots to operate for longer periods. They also promise enhanced safety due to the elimination of liquid electrolytes, reducing the risk of leaks and fires. Moreover, their ability to handle extreme conditions and provide optimized fast charging and discharging efficiency makes them ideal for humanoid robot needs.
Q: What are the key differences between ternary lithium batteries and solid-state batteries?
A: Ternary lithium batteries are currently widely used but face limitations in energy density and thermal stability. Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, are a newer technology with higher energy density, improved safety, and the potential for faster charging and discharging.While proven with the use of ternary lithium and lithium iron phosphate batteries, solid-state batteries offer major improvements.
Q: How do battery advancements effect the capabilities of humanoid robots?
A: Battery advancements directly impact the capabilities of humanoid robots in several ways.Higher energy density leads to longer operating times,allowing robots to perform complex tasks for extended periods. faster charging and discharging capabilities reduce downtime and increase productivity. Improved safety features make the robots more reliable in diverse environments. Lighter and smaller batteries also contribute to increased agility and movement capability.
Q: what are some of the companies actively developing battery technologies for humanoid robots?
A: Several companies are at the forefront of battery innovation in this field.CATL has invested in Galbot to develop batteries specifically for humanoid robots. BTR New Material Group has launched two new battery series, FLEX and GUARD, tailored for humanoid applications. these companies are working to meet the specific requirements of the robotics industry. Other companies, such as engineai and X Square Robot, are also partnering with research and developing to improve battery life in robotic applications.
