Home Kripto GM Drops Ultium for Alternative Battery Technologies
Kripto

GM Drops Ultium for Alternative Battery Technologies

GM Drops Ultium for Alternative Battery Technologies

General Motors (GM) is moving away from its standardized Ultium battery system, opting for a more varied approach with different battery cell chemistries and formats. This change diverges from GM’s initial plan to use a unified battery system across its electric vehicles (EVs), which was intended to reduce costs and streamline production. However, challenges such as COVID-19 delays and issues with robotic assembly hindered the rollout of Ultium batteries.

Kurt Kelty, GM’s vice president of batteries, indicated that transitioning to program-specific batteries now makes more sense for the company. One of the major changes will be a switch from nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) chemistry to lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, a move expected to lower the cost of GM’s EVs by as much as $6,000. LFP batteries are also considered easier to produce. GM’s shift follows other automakers, such as Tesla and Ford, who have already adopted LFP technology.

GM is also investing in a new battery research facility at its Warren Tech Center in Michigan. Researchers at the facility will investigate various battery formats, including cylindrical and prismatic cells, alongside the pouch format GM currently uses. The team will also explore alternative battery chemistries to advance the company’s EV technology.

This change in strategy aligns with GM’s efforts to make its EV division profitable. The company expects to sell and produce around 200,000 EVs this year, positioning itself as the second-largest EV seller in North America, behind Tesla.

Related Articles

WhatsApp surpasses 3 billion monthly users
Kripto

WhatsApp surpasses 3 billion monthly users

WhatsApp now has over 3 billion active users each month, Meta CEO...

Tesla rejects claims of contacting headhunters to replace Musk
Kripto

Tesla rejects claims of contacting headhunters to replace Musk

Tesla has denied reports suggesting it contacted recruitment firms to begin searching...

World teams up with Tinder and Visa to expand its ID-verifying technology
Kripto

World teams up with Tinder and Visa to expand its ID-verifying technology

World, the biometric ID company best known for its eyeball-scanning Orb devices,...

Sam Altman’s World introduces new mobile verification device
Kripto

Sam Altman’s World introduces new mobile verification device

Tools for Humanity, the startup behind the World verification initiative co-founded by...