- GM is ready to ditch the Ultium model identify amid a broad shift in battery technique, an govt informed Bloomberg.
- GM will proceed utilizing underlying batteries and know-how platforms, but additionally incorporate LFP and nickel-rich prismatic cells.
- A brand new Battery Cell Improvement Middle goals to speed up R&D.
When Common Motors launched the Ultium electrical car platform and battery system 4 years in the past, it stated that this plan—one widespread structure and household of modular batteries for all future fashions—would underpin tens of millions of EVs for years to return. It could additionally, in idea, imply GM might make sufficient batteries at scale for EVs to change into extremely worthwhile.
However truly scaling up has been a nightmare. Now, GM desires to kill the Ultium model identify, whereas preserving the underlying tech, and alter its method in the direction of batteries.
That element comes from an interview with former Tesla govt and GM’s present battery chief Kurt Kelty in Bloomberg. And apart from abandoning a reputation that hasn’t actually caught on, Kelty stated these strikes imply huge modifications for GM’s battery recreation.
Presently, GM’s principal battery accomplice is LG Power Answer. Now, Kelty stated the automaker plans to include totally different battery chemistries and ranging cell shapes to tailor them to specific fashions. GM’s present Ultium packs energy a dozen fashions, from the $35,000 Chevy Equinox EV to the $100,000 GMC Hummer EV, simply in several sizes.
That is more likely to change for future fashions.
In accordance with Kelty, there is a “vital” change coming to GM’s battery plans that might be revealed on the Investor Day Presentation later at the moment. Which means ditching the one-type-fits-all philosophy and tailoring battery packs to particular person fashions, one thing Tesla and BYD have been doing for years. That will embrace utilizing the present pouch cells for some fashions, however probably utilizing the easier-to-assemble prismatic cells for others.
GM EVs at present are geared up with nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum cells made by the three way partnership with LGES. Now it plans to diversify. The automaker is in talks with Japan’s TDK Corp to supply lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries within the U.S. utilizing tech licensed from CATL.
The next-gen Chey Bolt EV will experience on the Ultium platform, however it is going to use LFP batteries, as has been introduced beforehand. (Though initially, it might not use U.S.-made packs.)
Ultium Cells LLC Battery Plant in Warren, Ohio
LFP batteries are cheaper to supply than nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) cells, boast higher thermal efficiency and last more. However they’re much less vitality dense and therefore extra appropriate for entry stage fashions, just like the rear-wheel drive Tesla Mannequin 3 and the Normal Vary Ford Mustang Mach-E.
To speed up these plans, GM will conduct battery R&D on the Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Middle at GM’s campus in Warren, Michigan and on the new Battery Cell Improvement Middle that might be formally introduced on Tuesday. The latter is predicted to be up and operating by 2027 and collectively the 2 amenities will have the ability to develop new packs and get them prepared for manufacturing in 18 months.
GM can also be constructing a brand new $3.5 billion battery plant in Indiana in partnership with Samsung SDI to develop nickel-rich prismatic cells.
Kelty stated all of that is meant to “considerably” scale back battery weight, drive down prices and make manufacturing much less advanced. GM final 12 months stated was abandoning its objective of promoting 400,000 EVs by mid-2024. Its EV gross sales have been nowhere near that, however they’re bettering steadily. And this revised battery technique may assist it unlock a brand new section of mass manufacturing whereas doubtlessly bettering the vary and charging speeds of its EVs.
For all these challenges, together with software program points and transferring gross sales goalposts a number of occasions, GM is doing comparatively effectively in electrical gross sales. It simply posted one more consecutive quarter of EV deliveries and will shut the 12 months as America’s no. 2 electrical automaker behind Tesla.
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