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NewsGM Goes Bargain Hunting with China's Battery Blueprint

GM Goes Bargain Hunting with China’s Battery Blueprint

GM Goes Bargain Hunting with China's Battery Blueprint

GM’s rolling out its latest strategy to keep their EVs juiced through the next decade, and they’re hedging their bets on a three-pronged battery approach. Their newest move? Setting up shop to churn out low-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells in Tennessee by the end of 2027. But don’t hold your breath—this isn’t happening overnight. The conversion starts later this year, but it’s a slow burn. The production’s under Ultium Cells, GM’s joint venture with LG Energy Solution, already cranking out Cadillacs and Acuras at the same location.

Kurt Kelty, GM’s battery guy, is steering away from the one-size-fits-all battery strategy. After stops at Tesla and Panasonic, Kelty’s got street cred, but we’re not rolling out the red carpet just yet. GM’s updated Chevy Bolt is next on the list for these LFP cells, but they’ll be importing them for a while. It’s a way to get these cheaper batteries on the road quicker, but don’t be fooled—it’s a stopgap before they bring out their next-gen LMR cells. GM’s making noise about these LMR cells being cost-effective and packing more energy, but that’s the usual song and dance. We’ll see if they walk the talk.

The LFP play is a long-haul move, clearly. They’re not flipping a plant just for a flash in the pan. Meanwhile, GM’s been using nickel-manganese-cobalt-aluminum (NMCA) cells, which are energy-dense but hit the wallet hard. Production hiccups with Ultium modules delayed their EV party, but sales have been crawling up. Let’s see if they keep that momentum.

Ultium’s new LMR chemistry claims a third more energy density than LFP, at a comparable cost. Sounds great on paper. They’re aiming to cut costs on their mega battery packs for their gas-guzzlers turned electron-sippers. The first LMR cells are expected off the line in 2027, but full production is still a few years out. If you’re betting on a timeline, don’t expect it to be punctual.

GM’s diversifying its battery portfolio, mixing in LFP with their existing chemistries. This isn’t groundbreaking stuff—China’s been doing LFP forever, but GM’s making sure they’re not stepping on any Chinese patents with their production. Still, GM’s keeping mum on the specifics of their cell and module formats.

Kelty claims this multi-chemistry strategy is about fine-tuning and cutting costs. The battery’s the priciest part of an EV, and getting them cheaper is the only way these cars will ever compete on price. Still, it’s a big if.

Ford’s also trying to get in on the LFP game, but they’ve got their own hurdles, including political pushback over their partnership with CATL, a Chinese company. Ford’s talking about LMR cells too, but unlike GM, they’re not putting a date on it. It’s a classic case of follow-the-leader, and Ford’s trailing GM for now.

Bottom line: GM’s trying to hedge its bets with a diversified battery strategy. It’s a long-term play, and the jury’s still out on how much of this is smoke and mirrors. Keep your eyes peeled, but don’t get caught up in the hype.

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