General Motors on Tuesday filled in some details on plans to make use of cost-cutting lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells in future EVs.
Now it has a number for the extent of cost-cutting that is potentially gone into the following Bolt EV. As reported by InsideEVs, GM executives said at an investor conference that LFP cells would mix with other changes to packaging and manufacturing to chop $6,000 from the price of constructing EVs, in comparison with current models.
2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV review update – Portland OR
GM previously indicated that it will construct a “low-cost” version of the next-generation Bolt EV with LFP cells, which is able to likely be a key consider making it the most inexpensive EV within the U.S., as GM has claimed. The brand new Bolt EV is predicted to reach in 2025 as a 2026 model, even though it’s unclear if the LFP-powered version can be available at launch.
It ought to be noted that battery-related savings on the Bolt EV specifically, with its more modestly sized battery pack, likely add as much as lower than the potential $6,000 figure for switching chemistries.
InsideEVs also reports that GM is in talks with Japanese firm TDK Corp. to fabricate LFP cells within the U.S. using tech licensed from CATL. It was reported earlier this yr that GM was in search of a U.S. battery-supply take care of CATL directly, despite “foreign entity of concern” language introduced into federal EV tax credit rules presenting a legal gray area for manufacturing of batteries derived from Chinese 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 also less vulnerable to overheating, thermal runaway, and heat-related degradation than the nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells utilized in current GM EVs. Uptake within the U.S. has been slow, but that is changing, with Ford already in search of to fabricate LFP cells under license from CATL.
Thus far, GM has focused on a selected NMC pouch cell format co-developed with LG, but in 2023 CEO Mary Barra said the automaker was flexible on battery cells and had been other formats all along. Now the automaker appears able to put its money where its mouth is, which is probably going also a consider the choice to drop the Ultium branding mostly related to its initial pouch cells because it looks to diversify.
This Article First Appeared At www.greencarreports.com
