Doosan Bobcat Opens ‘eFORCE LAB’ battery pack R&D centre

Doosan Bobcat has officially launched eFORCE LAB, a dedicated battery pack research and development (R&D) centre focused on advancing next-generation electrification technologies for construction and other compact equipment. The effort marks a significant step toward the development of standardised, modular battery packs.

Opened on 26 August, the new centre is located in Indeokwon, Anyang-si within South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province. It will serve as a hub for testing and developing core battery pack technologies designed to meet the demands of electrified construction equipment.

The name eFORCE LAB combines the ‘e’ from electrification, energy and eco-friendly with ‘force’, symbolising the center’s mission to pioneer cutting-edge energy technologies for electrified equipment.

The inauguration event was attended by key leadership, including Scott Park, CEO and Vice Chairman of Doosan Bobcat, and Hyungwon Park, President of Doosan Bobcat ALAO. Together, they unveiled the vision for establishing eFORCE LAB as a global R&D hub for battery pack innovation.

Since laying the groundwork for its battery pack business in 2023, Doosan Bobcat successfully deployed its in-house developed LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery packs on Bobcat forklifts in late 2024. Over 100 units powered by these LFP battery packs have been shipped, marking initial success of the company’s commercialisation efforts.

The first official research project at eFORCE LAB is the development of the Bobcat Standard Unit Pack (BSUP), a modular, next-generation battery pack solution for construction and material handling equipment. Designed like building blocks, BSUP allows users to expand battery capacity by stacking modular units. The solution will debut in forklifts and later extend to compact loaders, excavators and other Doosan Bobcat products.

Scott Park says: “Electrification is an inevitable future – it’s a transformation already underway in the construction industry. With eFORCE LAB as our global R&D hub, we’re engineering solutions optimised for challenging construction equipment environments, defining new industry standards.”

Doosan Bobcat has invested in a vertical integration strategy to enhance product quality and strengthen supply resilience. In October 2024, the company acquired Doosan Mottrol to internalise the production of hydraulic components, key drivetrain elements for diesel-powered equipment.

With proprietary battery pack technology within its business operations, Doosan Bobcat is equipped to address both traditional internal combustion and electrification equipment.