CIA支持的BEI将电池产能扩大八倍
锂金属电池初创公司BEI计划将产能扩大八倍，年产能将从24.3兆瓦时提升。该公司受到无人机和国防客户需求激增的推动。
原文深度解读
本文报道了韩国锂金属电池初创公司BEI计划将年产能从24.3兆瓦时（MWh）扩大至200 MWh（约八倍）的消息。公司受无人机和国防客户需求激增推动，已获美国中央情报局（CIA）支持的风险投资机构In-Q-Tel投资。文章涉及BEI的产能扩张计划、技术特点（无负极锂金属电池）、客户订单、融资进展及上市目标，与电子元器件供应链中的电池制造和材料供应相关。
- BEI计划将年产能从24.3 MWh扩大至200 MWh，约为当前水平的八倍，预计明年实现。
- BEI的产能扩张基于已确认订单，采用按需添加设备的策略，避免预先建设GWh级工厂的高成本。
- 第一工厂年产能将从80,000个电芯（5.3 MWh）增至374,000个电芯（24.3 MWh），并计划到2027年增至1,872,000个电芯（121.6 MWh），同时建设第二工厂。
- 今年截至7月，BEI的销售额和订单额超过9亿韩元，而去年的收入约为3亿韩元；付费客户增至59家，其中20家重复下单。
- BEI与六家客户签署的意向书涵盖764万个电芯，即使第二工厂完成后年产能达到300万个电芯，也相当于超过两年的产量。
- BEI的无负极锂金属电池不使用石墨、硅或锂金属箔，通过专有“Dual NASEI”界面涂层技术控制锂的均匀沉积，抑制枝晶生长。
供应链影响
- BEI产能扩张可能增加对铜集流体、电解质和添加剂等原材料的需求，具体取决于其生产计划。
- 由于BEI电池不使用石墨和锂金属箔，可能影响相关材料供应商的订单，但可能增加对阴极材料的需求。
- BEI的扩张策略基于订单，可能使其供应链更具灵活性，但可能受限于关键设备的交付周期。
- 国防和无人机市场的增长可能推动对高性能电池的需求，BEI可能成为该细分市场的供应商，影响现有电池供应链格局。
- BEI计划在2027年进行C轮融资和2028年上市，可能影响其供应链合作伙伴的长期规划，取决于融资和上市进展。
系统解读，仅作为判断线索，不构成备货、出货、涨价或投资建议。
电池相关专利和认证展示在BEI的安山工厂。（照片：THE ELEC）
锂金属电池初创公司BEI计划将产能扩大八倍。在无人机和国防客户需求激增的情况下，公司明年将把年产能从24.3兆瓦时（MWh）提高到200 MWh。
BEI的无负极锂金属电池降低了传统产品的高成本和复杂制造工艺。公司瞄准高性能电池市场，包括无人机、国防和机器人。美国中央情报局（CIA）设立的战略风险投资组织In-Q-Tel（IQT）也投资了BEI，理由是其技术和在国防市场的潜力。
BEI采取了基于已确认订单扩大生产的策略。它在收到客户订单后立即添加必要设备，这种有针对性的扩张方式减少了预先建设耗资数百亿韩元的吉瓦时（GWh）级工厂的负担。
公司正在将第一安山工厂的年产能从80,000个电芯（5.3 MWh）扩大到374,000个电芯（24.3 MWh）。它增加了堆叠设备（通过堆叠电极组装电芯）以及用于后处理的充放电设备。到2027年，BEI计划安装额外设备，将第一工厂的产能提高到1,872,000个电芯（121.6 MWh），并建设第二工厂。一旦第二工厂开始运营，总年产能将达到300万个电芯（200 MWh），约为当前水平的八倍。
扩张是由客户需求激增推动的。去年收入约为3亿韩元，今年截至7月，销售额和订单额超过9亿韩元。付费客户数量已增至59家，其中20家已重复下单。与六家客户签署的意向书涵盖764万个电芯。即使第二工厂完成后年产能扩大到300万个电芯，这也代表超过两年的产量。
BEI最初扩展到无人机和无人防御系统。这些产品需要在相同重量下存储更多能量，同时瞬时提供高功率。它们还必须在极寒条件下保持性能。
BEI电池的一个关键特点是负极不使用石墨、硅或锂金属箔。无负极锂金属电池仅在负极侧使用铜集流体制造。在充电过程中，来自正极的锂以金属形式在铜表面积累，形成负极。
消除负极材料允许在相同重量和体积下使用更高比例的正极材料，有助于提高能量密度。它还消除了传统锂金属电池中使用的锂金属箔的需求。避免昂贵的锂箔降低了原材料成本，并消除了处理锂箔所需的加工步骤，因为锂箔容易与空气反应。能够使用许多现有的锂离子电池制造设备是商业化的另一个优势。
关键的技术挑战是确保充电过程中锂均匀沉积。如果锂集中在特定区域，针状枝晶可能生长，降低电池寿命和安全性。BEI使用其专有的“Dual NASEI”界面涂层技术来控制锂，使其均匀沉积在铜集流体上。公司还使用专有电解质和添加剂。
BEI的“Dual NASEI”技术用于无负极锂金属电池的示意图。该技术促进锂在铜集流体上的均匀沉积，以抑制枝晶生长。（照片：THE ELEC）
性能也在无人机测试中得到验证。在一家韩国无人机公司进行的室温测试中，配备传统锂离子电池的无人机飞行了18分50秒，而使用BEI电池则飞行了31分40秒。在国防部在零下25摄氏度的战斗实验中，中国锂离子电池运行了约12分钟，而BEI的电池持续了约36分钟。在芬兰的Griffin Tech Days 2026上，一架无人机在零下26摄氏度下完成了30分钟的飞行。
BEI也引起了美国的关注。1999年由CIA设立的In-Q-Tel投资了该公司。In-Q-Tel是一个战略投资组织，识别美国情报机构和国家安全组织所需的先进私营部门技术。BEI还认为，将中国制造的电池排除在北美和欧洲国防市场之外的努力是业务扩张的机会。
BEI在2021年的pre-Series A轮融资中筹集了50亿韩元，在2023年的A轮融资中筹集了160亿韩元。它已获得约300亿韩元的B轮融资，将用于扩大第一工厂的大规模生产设备并确保第二工厂。公司还计划在2027年进行约500亿韩元的C轮融资。
BEI的目标是在2028年上市。它今年选择了一家IPO承销商，并计划明年为技术评估和初步上市审查做准备。
Battery-related patents and certifications displayed at BEI’s Ansan facility. (Photo: THE ELEC)
Lithium-metal battery startup BEI plans to expand production capacity eightfold. Amid surging demand from drone and defense customers, the company will increase annual capacity from 24.3 megawatt-hours (MWh) to 200 MWh next year.
BEI’s anode-free lithium-metal batteries reduce the high costs and complex manufacturing processes associated with conventional products. The company is targeting high-performance battery markets including drones, defense and robotics. In-Q-Tel (IQT), the strategic venture investment organization established by the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), has also invested in BEI, citing its technology and potential in the defense market.
BEI has adopted a strategy of expanding production based on secured orders. It adds essential equipment immediately after receiving customer orders, a targeted expansion approach that reduces the burden of building a gigawatt-hour (GWh)-scale factory costing tens of billions of won in advance.
The company is expanding annual capacity at its first Ansan plant from 80,000 cells, or 5.3 MWh, to 374,000 cells, or 24.3 MWh. It has added stacking equipment that assembles cells by stacking electrodes, as well as charge-discharge equipment for post-processing. By 2027, BEI plans to install additional equipment to raise capacity at the first plant to 1.872 million cells, or 121.6 MWh, and build a second plant. Once the second plant begins operations, total annual capacity will reach 3 million cells, or 200 MWh, about eight times the current level.
The expansion is being driven by a surge in customer demand. Revenue, which was around 300 million won last year, exceeded 900 million won on a sales and orders basis through July this year. The number of paying customers has risen to 59, including 20 that have placed repeat orders. Letters of intent (LOIs) signed with six customers cover 7.64 million cells. Even with annual capacity expanded to 3 million cells after the second plant is completed, that represents more than two years of production.
BEI is initially expanding into drones and unmanned defense systems. Such products need to store more energy at the same weight while delivering high power instantaneously. They must also maintain performance in extreme cold.
A key feature of BEI’s batteries is that they use no graphite, silicon or lithium-metal foil in the anode. Anode-free lithium-metal batteries are manufactured with only a copper current collector on the anode side. During charging, lithium from the cathode accumulates as metal on the copper surface, forming the anode.
Eliminating anode materials allows a higher proportion of cathode material at the same weight and volume, helping increase energy density. It also eliminates the need for the lithium-metal foil used in conventional lithium-metal batteries. Avoiding expensive lithium foil reduces raw-material costs and eliminates processing steps required to handle lithium foil, which reacts easily with air. The ability to use much of the existing lithium-ion battery manufacturing equipment is another advantage for commercialization.
The key technical challenge is ensuring that lithium deposits evenly during charging. If lithium becomes concentrated in specific areas, needle-shaped dendrites can grow, reducing battery life and safety. BEI uses its proprietary “Dual NASEI” interfacial coating technology to control lithium so that it deposits evenly on the copper current collector. The company also uses proprietary electrolytes and additives.
Diagram of BEI’s “Dual NASEI” technology for anode-free lithium-metal batteries. The technology promotes uniform lithium deposition on the copper current collector to suppress dendrite growth. (Photo: THE ELEC)
Performance has also been demonstrated in drone tests. In a room-temperature test conducted by a Korean drone company, a drone equipped with a conventional lithium-ion battery flew for 18 minutes and 50 seconds, compared with 31 minutes and 40 seconds using a BEI battery. In a Ministry of National Defense combat experiment at minus 25 degrees Celsius, a Chinese lithium-ion battery operated for about 12 minutes, while BEI’s battery lasted about 36 minutes. At Griffin Tech Days 2026 in Finland, a drone completed a 30-minute flight at minus 26 degrees Celsius.
BEI has also drawn attention from the US. In-Q-Tel, established by the CIA in 1999, invested in the company. In-Q-Tel is a strategic investment organization that identifies advanced private-sector technologies needed by US intelligence agencies and national security organizations. BEI also sees moves to exclude Chinese-made batteries from the North American and European defense markets as an opportunity for business expansion.
BEI raised 5 billion won in a pre-Series A round in 2021 and 16 billion won in a Series A round in 2023. It has secured about 30 billion won in Series B funding, which will be used to expand mass-production equipment at its first plant and secure a second plant. The company also plans a Series C funding round of about 50 billion won in 2027.
BEI is targeting a public listing in 2028. It selected an IPO underwriter this year and plans to prepare for a technology assessment and preliminary listing review next year.