LG Energy Solution to exclusively supply batteries for Aptera solar EVs

LG Energy Solution will be the exclusive supplier of cylindrical batteries to U.S. solar electric vehicle startup Aptera Motors.

LG Energy Solution said on the 10th that it signed a three-party memorandum of understanding with Aptera Motors and South Korean battery pack maker CTNS on the 8th at CES 2025, the world’s largest consumer electronics and information technology trade show, in Las Vegas.

Under the agreement, LG Energy Solution will supply Aptera Motors with 4.4 GWh of 2170 cylindrical batteries over seven years, from this year through 2031. The companies will also work closely together to produce solar electric vehicles, a new product category in the future mobility market.

Aptera Motors’ solar electric vehicle, the Aptera, is a new form of mobility that maximizes driving range by combining solar panels with a battery pack. It successfully completed test drives last year and is expected to launch in the U.S. market this year after receiving around 50,000 preorders.

According to Aptera Motors, the vehicle can travel 643 km on a single charge. Solar panels alone can provide enough power for 64 km of driving per day, making it well suited for urban commutes. Its futuristic design, which minimizes aerodynamic drag, has also made it a standout example of next-generation mobility; the vehicle has even appeared in a well-known U.S. science fiction film.

◇ LG Energy Solution expands into new businesses with “future growth potential”

The supply agreement with Aptera Motors will help LG Energy Solution accelerate its efforts to diversify its product and customer portfolios.

Last year, LG Energy Solution unveiled its corporate vision, “Empower Every Possibility,” and announced plans to diversify its portfolio into new businesses with strong growth potential, including robotics, ships and urban air mobility (UAM). In November, it signed an MOU on battery cell supply and technical cooperation with Bear Robotics, a mobility platform company focused on autonomous robots.

Portfolio diversification is possible because LG Energy Solution offers differentiated customer value in both cylindrical and pouch-type batteries.

Since developing its first cylindrical battery in 1999, LG Energy Solution has introduced a range of products, most recently its 46-series batteries, expanding their applications. The company expects to begin mass production of its 46-series batteries at its Arizona plant in the U.S. next year, enabling it to respond promptly to customer demand.

Choi Hyun-keun, head of marketing at LG Energy Solution, said, “As an unrivaled leader in the global battery industry, LG Energy Solution will deliver differentiated customer value in next-generation mobility as well.”

Chris Anthony, co-CEO of Aptera Motors, said, “This agreement is an important milestone in bringing a solar electric vehicle with the reliability and performance customers expect to market. We’re pleased to work with LG Energy Solution and CTNS, whose expertise is outstanding, to build the future of sustainable transportation.”