Demand for solid-state batteries used in humanoid robots is expected to grow sharply over the next decade as the technology matures and robots move closer to large-scale commercialization, market research firm TrendForce said in a report released on Wednesday.
TrendForce projects that humanoid robots’ demand for solid-state batteries could exceed 74 gigawatt-hours (GWh) by 2035, representing growth of several thousand times compared with expected levels in 2026. The firm said humanoid robots are approaching a key commercialization phase next year, making batteries an increasingly critical component.
“At present, humanoid robots mainly rely on liquid lithium batteries, but rising requirements for longer endurance and high-load operations will push high-energy-density solid-state lithium batteries toward becoming the mainstream solution,” TrendForce said in the report.
Global shipments of humanoid robots are forecast to surpass 50,000 units in 2026, implying annual growth of more than 700%, according to TrendForce. High-nickel ternary lithium batteries, including NMC and NCA chemistries, are expected to remain the dominant choice in robotics due to their relatively high energy density, the firm said.
Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which offer lower costs but lower energy density, are currently more common in conversational robots with limited endurance requirements. Most humanoid robots on the market today provide between two and four hours of operation, with battery capacities generally below 2 kilowatt-hours (kWh).
TrendForce cited examples including the H1 humanoid robot from Unitree, which uses a 0.864-kWh battery and delivers less than four hours of static operation. Tesla’s Optimus Gen2, equipped with a 2.3-kWh high-nickel ternary battery system, offers about two hours of dynamic runtime, the report said.
To extend operating time to five to eight hours, some developers are adopting battery-swapping strategies. Robots such as Digit from Agility Robotics and Apollo from Apptronik use plug-and-play designs that allow batteries to be replaced without rebooting the system, enabling what TrendForce described as “theoretical 24-hour continuous operation.”
Another approach is increasing capacity through higher energy-density technologies. Robots including Iron from Xpeng, GoMate from GAC, and the T800 developed by Engine AI have adopted solid-state batteries, extending endurance to more than four hours, according to the report.
TrendForce cautioned that key humanoid robot technologies are still evolving rapidly, creating uncertainty for customized battery development. It added that because humanoid robots remain in the early stages of commercialization, the industry’s primary focus is identifying viable large-scale deployment scenarios, with battery endurance improvements currently a secondary priority.