- 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 Common 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 will 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 conserving the underlying tech, and alter its method in 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. In addition to abandoning a reputation that hasn’t actually caught on, Kelty mentioned these strikes imply huge 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 accomplish that, we are going to 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 services. However as we enter the following section of our journey, the time is correct to start this transition.
At present, GM’s fundamental battery associate is LG Power Answer. 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 several sizes.
That is will 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 in addition 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 provide 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 can use LFP batteries, as has been introduced beforehand. (Though initially, it could not use U.S.-made packs.)
Ultium Cells LLC Battery Plant in Warren, Ohio
LFP batteries are cheaper to provide 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 Customary Vary Ford Mustang Mach-E.
Though Kelty added that GM’s truck platform has sufficient area, that with intelligent engineering, it could possibly add low-cost LFP batteries and nonetheless extract a spread 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 middle will assist GM make sufficient cells for early car prototype, testing and validation.
The brand new middle is anticipated to be up and operating by 2027 and collectively the 2 services will be capable of 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 let you know 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 observe to provide 100 million cells by the top of this yr. GM can 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” cut back battery weight, drive down prices and make manufacturing much less complicated. GM final yr mentioned was abandoning its aim 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 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 transferring gross sales goalposts a number of instances, GM is doing comparatively nicely in electrical gross sales. It simply posted 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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