BEI
BEI (Beyond Energy Innovation) is a South Korean battery company that develops anode-free lithium metal battery cells (up to 410 Wh/kg) using proprietary ALD interfacial coating technology, supplying defense, drone, robotics, aviation, and EV OEMs directly from its Ansan HQ, US BD office, and Tokyo office.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersAnsan, South Korea
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What BEI does
BEI Corporation (Beyond Energy Innovation / 비이아이) is a South Korea-based battery technology company founded in October 2020 by CEO Bae Chang-deuk (Josiah), a former Sungkyunkwan University research professor with 20 years of materials science research and 50 SCI publications. The company specializes in anode-free lithium metal batteries (AFLMBs) using a proprietary atomic layer deposition (ALD)-based interfacial coating that suppresses lithium dendrite formation — historically the primary failure mechanism in lithium metal chemistries. Its cells deliver 410 Wh/kg energy density (versus ~200 Wh/kg for conventional lithium-ion), 80+ to 800 charge cycles depending on generation, pass nail penetration testing with non-flammable electrolyte, are UN 38.3 certified, and operate at -20°C for 40 minutes versus roughly 10 seconds for conventional Li-ion. The portfolio spans four product lines (BEI Ultralight, BEI Energy, BEI Power, BEI Safety) and a three-generation roadmap progressing from Semi-Solid LMB (Gen 1, in production) to Anode-Free Li-Free (Gen 2) to All-Solid-State (Gen 3, planned 2026-2027).
The company's business model centers on direct enterprise hardware sales of battery cells to defense, commercial drone/UAV, robotics, aviation, and (longer-term) electric vehicle OEMs, supplemented by interfacial design and formation technology services to advanced materials suppliers. Revenue is generated via custom, quote-based multi-year contracts (no public pricing). Go-to-market is a CBDO-led enterprise field-sales motion targeting US and European defense procurement, supported by strategic partnerships with NeonTech (drone OEM integration), TALOS (battery pack assembly), POSCO Future M (cathode materials), and Kumho Petrochemical (CNT materials) — a vertically integrated Korean supply chain positioned as a non-Chinese source for security-conscious defense buyers. The company has operations in Korea (HQ, R&D center, 1MWh pilot line in Ansan), the United States (BD office in Andover/Woburn, MA), and Japan (Tokyo), and has raised approximately 150B KRW (~$112M USD equivalent) across a 2023 Series A, government grants, and ongoing convertible preferred share allocations through 2026. As of December 2025, BEI entered formal mass production of its anode-free lithium metal battery cells.
BEI firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- BEI
- Legal name
- BEI Corporation (주식회사 비이아이)
- Website
- https://beilab.ai
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- BEI (Beyond Energy Innovation) is a South Korean battery company that develops anode-free lithium metal battery cells (up to 410 Wh/kg) using proprietary ALD interfacial coating technology, supplying defense, drone, robotics, aviation, and EV OEMs directly from its Ansan HQ, US BD office, and Tokyo office.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
BEI industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Advanced Lithium Metal Battery Cells
- NAICS
- Battery Manufacturing (33591)
- SIC
- Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing (EUAFABAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH) (IMAGAHAA), Battery Modules & Packs (Industrial/Commercial pack assembly) (IMAGAHAB), Battery Pack Manufacturing & Module Assembly (EUAFABAI)
Keywords
Where BEI is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ansan
- HQ country
- South Korea
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices4 records
Markets served
BEI business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Lithium Metal Battery Cell Sales: BEI manufactures and sells lithium metal battery cells in four product lines (BEI Ultralight, BEI Energy, BEI Power, BEI Safety) targeting drones, defense, robotics, aviation, and EVs. Revenue derived from direct product sales to OEM and defense customers.
- Interfacial Design and Formation Technology Services: BEI provides interphase design and formation technology services to high-energy advanced material suppliers as part of its go-to-market strategy.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom enterprise pricing based on product specification and volume |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels5 records
BEI product offering
Product offeringCore offering
BEI designs, manufactures, and sells anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) cells across four product lines (BEI Ultralight, BEI Energy, BEI Power, BEI Safety) targeting defense drones, commercial UAVs, robotics, aviation, and electric vehicles. Production is anchored at a 1 MWh pilot factory in Ansan, South Korea, using a proprietary ALD-based interfacial coating to suppress dendrites and a non-flammable electrolyte that passes nail-penetration and UN 38.3 testing. The company also offers interfacial design and formation technology services to high-energy advanced-material suppliers as part of its go-to-market.
Product overview
BEI (Beyond Energy Innovation) offers a portfolio of four distinct lithium metal battery (LMB) product lines: BEI Ultralight (high energy/power/affordable), BEI Energy (high energy/safety), BEI Power (high power/long cycle/low temperature), and BEI Safety (safety/reliability/fast charging). The company operates under a three-generation cell development roadmap: Gen 1 Semi-Solid LMB (400 Wh/kg, 800 cycles, 2023), Gen 2 Li-Free Anode Battery (affordable cell price, 2024-2025), and Gen 3 All Solid State Battery (enhanced safety, 2026-2027). These products serve applications in electric vehicles, drones, aerospace, military, and consumer electronics.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- BEI Ultralight: High Energy / Strong Power / Affordable Cost battery product line
- BEI Energy
- BEI Power
- BEI Safety
Products and services
- BEI Ultralight High-energy-density lithium metal battery cell with strong power output and affordable-cost positioning, designed for applications requiring extended runtime and lightweight power solutions such as drones and lightweight EVs.
- BEI Energy High-energy-density lithium metal battery cell optimized for safety features, targeting applications where reliability and thermal stability are critical requirements such as defense and aerospace platforms.
- BEI Power High-power-output lithium metal battery cell with extended cycle life and low-temperature operation capability, designed for demanding power-delivery applications including drones, robotics, and high-performance EVs.
- BEI Safety Safety-focused lithium metal battery cell with long cycle life, reliability, and fast-charging capabilities, prioritizing thermal stability and abuse tolerance (non-flammable electrolyte, nail-penetration and UN 38.3 compliant).
- Semi-Solid LMB (Gen 1) BEI's first-generation semi-solid lithium metal battery cell achieving 400 Wh/kg energy density and 800 cycle life, commercially manufactured since 2023 and the foundation of the Ultralight/Energy/Power/Safety product-line variants.
- Li-Free Anode Battery (Gen 2) Second-generation anode-free (lithium-free anode) lithium metal battery cell targeting affordable cell price for mass-market deployment; formally reached mass production with greater than 400 Wh/kg energy density in December 2025 and is the subject of a POSCO Future M + Kumho Petrochemical joint-development MOU signed in April 2026.
- Interfacial Design and Formation Technology Services Professional technology services in which BEI applies its proprietary interfacial design and formation know-how (originally developed for its own lithium metal battery cells) to high-energy advanced-material suppliers — a consulting/technology-services revenue stream that complements cell sales.
Quantifiable outcome
- 410 Wh/kg energy density — enabling 2x flight time and 70% longer distances for drones
- +7 more outcomes
Companies that use BEI
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
BEI technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
BEI partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators9 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
BEI competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- SES AI: SES AI (formerly SolidEnergy Systems) is a direct peer developing lithium-metal batteries for EVs and UAVs using a similar hybrid anode-free architecture; both target 400+ Wh/kg energy density and pursue strategic partnerships with auto OEMs, making SES AI the most closely comparable pure-play to BEI's anode-free LMB roadmap.
- Solid Power: Solid Power is a direct peer in the lithium-metal/solid-state battery space, partnering with BMW and SK On; its sulfide-based all-solid-state roadmap parallels BEI's Gen 3 commercial target window of 2026-2027, making it a key comparable for technology readiness and capital intensity benchmarks.
- ProLogium Technology: ProLogium is a Taiwan-based developer of ceramic solid-state lithium-metal batteries targeting EV and consumer applications; comparable to BEI in the lithium-metal / solid-state category and notable for pursuing gigawatt-scale manufacturing and OEM supply agreements that BEI aspires to.
- QuantumScape: QuantumScape develops solid-state lithium-metal batteries targeting EV applications with a comparable energy-density and cycle-life proposition to BEI's Gen 3 all-solid-state roadmap; both are pre-revenue pure-plays pursuing premium automaker partnerships and defense/aviation adjacencies.
- Amprius Technologies: Amprius manufactures silicon-anode lithium-ion batteries delivering 400+ Wh/kg for aviation, drones, and defense applications — directly competing with BEI in the high-performance UAV/defense battery niche where energy density, light weight, and US-aligned supply chain are primary purchase criteria.
Broad incumbents
- Samsung SDI: Samsung SDI is a broad incumbent with publicly stated all-solid-state battery commercialization targets for 2027 — directly overlapping BEI's Gen 3 timeline — and dominates Korean battery supply for global OEMs, making it the most strategically important incumbent for BEI to differentiate against.
- SK On: SK On is a major Korean EV battery incumbent and an equity partner of Solid Power, signaling its commitment to lithium-metal/solid-state technology; competes with BEI for Korean automaker and defense battery programs and possesses the scale and capex BEI lacks.
- CATL: CATL is the world's largest battery manufacturer and has piloted semi-solid-state and condensed-state battery products at 500 Wh/kg class; its scale, cost position, and global OEM relationships set the competitive ceiling that BEI must outperform on energy density and supply-chain security to win premium niches.
Emerging players
- Sakuu: Sakuu (formerly KeraCel) is an emerging solid-state battery developer using a 3D-printed cell architecture; while not a direct LMB competitor, it is pursuing a parallel Gen 3 solid-state commercialization path targeting aviation, defense, and EV segments where BEI also competes.
- Microvast: Microvast is a US-listed commercial battery manufacturer with lithium-ion and emerging lithium-metal product lines targeting commercial vehicles, drones, and specialty applications; competes with BEI in defense/specialty premium battery segments and provides a relevant valuation benchmark for an early-commercial-stage battery company.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
BEI social profiles
Digital presenceBEI compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
BEI financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
BEI leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
BEI funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds6 records
Investors12 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
BEI M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about BEI
What does BEI do?
BEI designs, manufactures, and sells anode-free lithium metal battery (AFLMB) cells across four product lines (BEI Ultralight, BEI Energy, BEI Power, BEI Safety) targeting defense drones, commercial UAVs, robotics, aviation, and electric vehicles. Production is anchored at a 1 MWh pilot factory in Ansan, South Korea, using a proprietary ALD-based interfacial coating to suppress dendrites and a non-flammable electrolyte that passes nail-penetration and UN 38.3 testing. The company also offers interfacial design and formation technology services to high-energy advanced-material suppliers as part of its go-to-market.
Is BEI a public or private company?
BEI is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was BEI founded?
BEI was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is BEI based?
BEI is headquartered in Ansan, South Korea, in the Asia region.
How does BEI make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Lithium Metal Battery Cell Sales are the primary driver. The others are interfacial Design and Formation Technology Services.
Who are BEI's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are SES AI, Solid Power, ProLogium Technology, QuantumScape and Amprius Technologies. Broad incumbents are Samsung SDI, SK On and CATL. Emerging players are Sakuu and Microvast.
Does BEI have an API?
No public API is recorded for BEI.
What industry is BEI in?
BEI's product category is Advanced Lithium Metal Battery Cells. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EUAFABAH, Solid-State Battery Materials & Cell Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMAGAHAA, Battery Cells (Li-ion, LFP, Sodium-ion, Lead-acid, NiMH). Its NAICS code is 33591 and its SIC code is 3600.