GM partners to fast-track 500-mile EV
Automaker to build Massachusetts battery prototyping line by ’23
General Motors wants to sell electric vehicles that can travel 500 to 600 miles on a full charge in the near future.
To get there, it’s partnered with lithium metal battery developer Solidenergy Systems, which is based in Singapore, but has U.S. operations in Boston.
GM President Mark Reuss announced the new partnership Thursday at a Washington Post Live virtual conference where he also alluded to more EVS coming soon to Chevrolet and a transformation to GM’S retail sales model and how consumers will buy EVS in the future.
As part of its joint venture with Solidenergy, GM will build a manufacturing prototyping line in Woburn, Massachusetts, for a high-capacity, pre-production battery by 2023, Reuss said.
GM Ventures invested in Solidenergy six years ago to research, develop and manufacture Li-metal technology and Ai-powered battery management software. Reuss said this new joint development agreement is the next progression of that ongoing collaboration.
The lithium metal battery GM develops with Solidenergy will offer affordability and high performance, Reuss said. The prototype battery GM is developing with SES is intended to apply to the next generation of Ultium, which GM is targeting for mid-decade.
This is separate from the battery chemistry that will launch GM’S initial Ultium-based products such as the GMC Hummer EV and Cadillac Lyriq SUV.
“Affordability and range are two major barriers to mass EV adoption,” said Reuss. “With this next-generation Ultium chemistry, we believe we’re on the cusp of a once-in-a-generation improvement in energy density and cost. There’s even more room to improve in both categories, and we intend to innovate faster than any other company in this space.”
The initial prototype batteries GM has developed with Solidenergy have already completed 150,000 simulated test miles at research and development labs at GM’S Global Technical Center in Warren, Reuss said, demonstrating real-world potential.
To speed up bringing what it calls “Li-metal battery” to market, GM is working with several innovative companies and making investments to achieve scale quickly, he said.