- GM will ditch the Ultium model identify amid a broad shift in battery technique.
- The automaker will proceed utilizing underlying batteries and know-how platforms, but in addition incorporate LFP and nickel-rich prismatic cells.
- A brand new Battery Cell Growth Middle in Michigan goals to speed up R&D.
When Basic Motors launched the Ultium electrical car platform and battery system 4 years in the past, it mentioned that this plan—one frequent structure and household of modular batteries for all future fashions—would underpin hundreds of thousands of EVs for years to come back. It could additionally, in concept, imply GM may make sufficient batteries at scale for EVs to turn into extremely worthwhile.
However scaling up has been a nightmare in actuality. Now, GM desires to kill the Ultium model identify, whereas maintaining the underlying tech, and alter its method in the direction of batteries.
The announcement comes from Kurt Kelty, GM’s vice chairman of battery cell and pack who spoke on the annual Investor Day presentation right now. Apart from abandoning a reputation that hasn’t actually caught on, Kelty mentioned these strikes imply massive modifications for GM’s battery roadmap.
This is what Kelty mentioned throughout the presentation:
It now makes enterprise sense to transition from one-size-fits-all to new program particular batteries. As we achieve this, we’ll sundown the model identify Ultium for our EV batteries and applied sciences. Ultium will proceed for use in reference to our three way partnership manufacturing websites and different amenities. However as we enter the subsequent section of our journey, the time is true to start this transition.
Presently, GM’s important battery accomplice is LG Power Resolution. Now, Kelty mentioned the automaker plans to include completely 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 numerous sizes.
That may change for future fashions as GM prepares to incorporate high-nickel, mid-nickel and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes. That features utilizing the present pouch cells for some fashions and likewise utilizing the easier-to-assemble prismatic cells for others.
GM EVs presently are geared up with nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum cells made by the LGES three way partnership. Now it plans to diversify. The automaker is in talks with Japan’s TDK Corp to supply LFP batteries within the U.S. utilizing tech licensed from CATL.
The next-gen Chey Bolt EV will trip on the Ultium platform, however it would use LFP batteries, as has been introduced beforehand. (Though initially, it could not use U.S.-made packs.)
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 degree fashions, just like the rear-wheel drive Tesla Mannequin 3 and the Customary Vary Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Ultium Cells LLC Battery Plant in Warren, Ohio
Though Kelty added that GM’s truck platform has sufficient house, that with intelligent engineering, it will possibly add low-cost LFP batteries and nonetheless extract a variety of over 350 miles.
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 Growth Middle that it introduced right now. Kelty mentioned the brand new heart will assist GM make sufficient cells for early car prototype, testing and validation.
The brand new heart is predicted to be up and working by 2027 and collectively the 2 amenities will have the ability to develop new packs and get them prepared for manufacturing in 18 months. Kelty admitted the challenges GM confronted in scaling up battery manufacturing however added, “I can confidently inform you that the manufacturing issues we confronted on the finish of final yr are behind us.”
GM elevated its battery module manufacturing by 10 instances in comparison with the final yr and its Ohio-based JV with LGES is on monitor to supply 100 million cells by the tip of this yr. 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 mentioned all of that is meant to “considerably” scale back battery weight, drive down prices and make manufacturing much less complicated. GM final yr mentioned it was abandoning its aim of promoting 400,000 EVs by mid-2024—now its on monitor to supply and ship about 200,000 EVs this yr. And this revised battery technique would possibly 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 shifting gross sales goalposts a number of instances, GM is doing comparatively nicely in electrical gross sales. It simply posted yet one more consecutive quarter of EV deliveries and should shut the yr as America’s no. 2 electrical automaker behind Tesla.
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