Basic Motors on Tuesday stuffed in some particulars on plans to make use of cost-cutting lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells in future EVs.
Now it has a quantity for the extent of cost-cutting that is probably gone into the following Bolt EV. As reported by InsideEVs, GM executives mentioned at an investor convention that LFP cells would mix with different adjustments to packaging and manufacturing to chop $6,000 from the price of making EVs, in comparison with present fashions.
2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV assessment replace – Portland OR
GM beforehand indicated that it might construct a “low-cost” model of the next-generation Bolt EV with LFP cells, which is able to doubtless be a key consider making it the most reasonably priced EV within the U.S., as GM has claimed. The brand new Bolt EV is predicted to reach in 2025 as a 2026 mannequin, though it is unclear if the LFP-powered model will probably be obtainable at launch.
It needs to be famous that battery-related financial savings on the Bolt EV particularly, with its extra modestly sized battery pack, doubtless add as much as lower than the potential $6,000 determine for switching chemistries.
InsideEVs additionally experiences that GM is in talks with Japanese agency TDK Corp. to fabricate LFP cells within the U.S. utilizing tech licensed from CATL. It was reported earlier this yr that GM was looking for a U.S. battery-supply take care of CATL straight, regardless of “international entity of concern” language launched into federal EV tax credit score guidelines presenting a authorized grey space for manufacturing of batteries derived from Chinese language mental property.
Conceptual drawing of Ultium Cells plant in Tennessee
Roughly one-fifth of the world’s EV batteries are LFP. They are not as depending on nickel and cobalt, making them cheaper and fewer environmentally and geopolitically controversial. They’re additionally much less vulnerable to overheating, thermal runaway, and heat-related degradation than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells utilized in present GM EVs. Uptake within the U.S. has been sluggish, however that is altering, with Ford already looking for to fabricate LFP cells below license from CATL.
Up to now, GM has targeted on a selected NMC pouch cell format co-developed with LG, however in 2023 CEO Mary Barra mentioned the automaker was versatile on battery cells and had been different codecs all alongside. Now the automaker seems able to put its cash the place its mouth is, which is probably going additionally an element within the resolution to drop the Ultium branding principally related to its preliminary pouch cells because it seems to diversify.
