GM officials said the technology being developed with SES will be used in future Ultium-based vehicles, the first of which will be on sale with the launch of the GMC Hammer Electricpick truck.
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General Motors Co on Thursday announced a partnership with a lithium metal battery startup to boost the development of US automaker’s batteries, which allow for higher electric vehicle driving ranges in smaller packages.
A joint development agreement with Solid Energy Solutions (SES) of Woburn, Massachusetts, will allow GM to reduce weight from the vehicle, a prime target for vehicle manufacturers as they push electric vehicles to roll out. GM has stated that during the mid-decade its Ultium battery pack costs 60% less than today’s packs and has twice the energy density.
The companies planned to build a manufacturing line at SES to assemble the prototype battery by 2023, GM said, which invested an undisclosed amount in 2015 at SES. The terms of the partnership, announced on Thursday, were not disclosed.
Battery cells that use lithium metal in place of traditional graphite have the ability to store more energy, and thus provide a driving range in future electric vehicles (EVs) or similar range in much smaller and lighter batterycaps.
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GM officials said the technology being developed with the SES will be used in future moving Ultium-based vehicles, the first sale of which will be with the launch of the GMC Hammer electric pickup truck.
Kent Hellfreak, GM’s executive director of global electrification and battery systems, said in an interview, “This is a great opportunity for us to find more energy in a smaller package that will free up space inside the vehicle for other technology. “
Last year, GM introduced Ultium as a key pillar in its push to cut battery costs and expand the electric driving range. GM is building a $ 2.3 billion joint venture ultium battery plant with LG Energy Solution, a unit of LG Energy Solutions in Ohio, and the companies are expected to set up a second factory, possibly in Tennessee.
The Detroit automaker said in January it was aiming to phase out the sale of light-duty vehicles powered by gasoline and diesel by 2035.
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GM said that last year it was investing $ 27 billion on electric and self-driving vehicles and plans to launch 30 EVs globally by the end of 2025.
The automaker said the initial prototype batteries have completed 150,000 mock test miles at GM’s technology center in Warren, Michigan. Other investors at SES include Chinese automaker and GM partner SAIC Motor, South Korean battery maker SK Innovation and chip tooling manufacturer Applied Materials.
The deal is not exclusive and SES can work with other automakers, Helfrich said.
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