It’s always hard to tell if the legacy automaker like General Motors (GM), is really serious about transiting to electric car future or is it just a PR stunt. However, one can be sure if they are putting cash money into a big EV battery factory which is a good demonstration of an actual vision and commitment.
GM formed a joint venture with LG Chem earlier this year, Ultium Cells LLC and shared its electrification plans just before a certain infamous coronavirus shut the country down.
The new Ultium batteries, which were designed in Michigan, will use large-format, pouch-style cells that can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack.
The crown jewel of the Ultium system is the battery cell itself. The new cell has 60% more energy capacity than what’s been used in the Bolt EV.
The batteries currently powering the Bolt cost $145/kWh, while the new GM Ultium batteries produced under the joint venture will drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh (by 2025).
The flexible and modular format will enable company to put 24 modules, with vertically stacked cells, in the Hummer, or 6, 8, 10, or 12 modules with horizontally-stacked cells into low-profile Cadillac, Buick, and Chevrolet crossovers.
This flexible Ultium battery system laid out its multi-brand, multi-segment EV strategy — for getting to 1 million EV sales per year asap. The strategy is to move forward with the fewest number of the largest cells possible.
Reference- GM Online Mediaroom, Clean Technica, LG Chem PR
