Latest news with #WonjoonSuh
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM's Ultium Cells battery plant in Tennessee to add production of low-cost LFP cells
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Ultium Cells, the electric vehicle battery joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is upgrading its battery cell manufacturing facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee, to add production of lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, the company announced in a July 14 press release. The plans are part of a $2.3 billion investment in the plant that was announced in 2021 to produce nickel cobalt manganese aluminum (NCMA) pouch cells and LFP cells at the same facility. The conversion of existing production lines will begin later this year, with commercial production of LFP cells expected to begin in late 2027. 'The upgrade reflects the continued strength of our partnership with General Motors and our shared commitment to advancing EV battery innovation,' said Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution, in the release. Dive Insight: Introducing low-cost LFP battery chemistry into its growing lineup can help GM improve margins on its EVs, as well as reduce their costs for buyers. The higher costs of EVs using existing battery chemistries may deter shoppers and impact adoption in the U.S. now that the Federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 is slated to end on Sept. 30. The elimination of the credit is included in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which was signed into law on July 4. GM currently uses more expensive nickel manganese cobalt aluminum oxide (NMCA) batteries for its EVs. The cost-effectiveness of LFP batteries compared to NCMA or nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) types is due to the use of less expensive raw materials, including cobalt and nickel. Instead, LFP batteries use a higher amount of cheap and abundant iron and phosphate. LFP batteries contain virtually no cobalt and perform better than other cell chemistries in high temperatures, making them more resistant to cell degradation and fire for greater safety. 'At GM, we're innovating battery technology to deliver the best mix of range, performance, and affordability to our EV customers,' said Kurt Kelty, VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability at GM, in the release. 'This upgrade at Spring Hill will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LFP cell technologies in the U.S., complementing our high-nickel and future lithium manganese rich solutions and further diversifying our growing EV portfolio." LFP batteries also have a significantly longer cycle life and can endure more charge-discharge cycles before degrading, translating into a longer service life. In addition, LPF batteries can be fully charged to 100% without accelerating cell degradation compared to NMC batteries. This is among the reasons why many OEMs recommend charging EVs to just 80% to extend battery service life. However, the tradeoff is that drivers do not receive the vehicle's full EPA-estimated range. One of the drawbacks of LFP batteries however, is their lower energy density compared to NMC and NCA chemistries, according to Quantumscape. An automaker must use more LFP cells to achieve EV range targets that buyers now expect. Although the use of additional cells and a larger battery pack may improve range, it also increases vehicle weight and can potentially reduce an EVs interior space. In addition to Ultium Cells adding LFP cell production in Tennessee, GM and LG Energy announced in May the development of an improved lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cell design for the automaker's future electric vehicles. The LMR battery chemistry uses a higher percentage of lower-cost manganese to replace cobalt, while still delivering high energy density, according to GM. GM aims to be the first major automaker to use LMR batteries, and the Ultium Cells joint venture plans to start commercial production of the new cells by 2028 for GM's full-size electric trucks and SUVs. 'Our expertise in these three battery chemistries will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LMR and LFP cell technologies so we can produce both full-size electric pickups and affordable EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt,' said GM president Mark Reuss in a blog post. Ultium Cells broke ground on the Tennessee EV battery plant in 2021 and the first shipments of batteries to GM were in March 2024. Recommended Reading GM, LG Energy target commercializing manganese-rich batteries for EVs
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
GM Unveils Game-Changing Battery, Aims for Affordable 400-Mile EVs
General Motors (GM) and LG Energy Solution have announced plans to commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs, providing a 33% higher energy density compared to the best lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based cells, all at a comparable cost. Kurt Kelty, VP of battery, propulsion, and sustainability at GM, emphasized that the new battery cells will be especially prevalent within the automaker's electric truck lineup, with over 400 miles of available range while optimizing savings over their high-nickel pack, which currently supplies segment-leading range in those electric trucks. The pre-production of LMR prismatic cells will begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. GM will be the first automaker to deploy the tech in EVs with full commercial production in 2028. Ultimately, GM's upcoming use of LMR battery tech reduces production and buyer costs while maintaining impressive range and promoting domestic battery production through responsible sourcing of materials like lithium, graphite, and manganese in North America. GM has been researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells since 2015, prototyping the technology at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren, Michigan. Overcoming LMR legacy challenges in performance and durability involved GM and its partners "engineering advanced cathode materials, electrolytes, additives, form factors, and cell assembly processes." The challenges have consisted of significant cobalt usage posing expense challenges, struggles to match the energy density of nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries, and structural stability issues during charge cycles. Over nearly a decade, GM engineers' work involved prototyping 18 cell variations representing 1.4 million miles of driving, TechSpot reports. LG Energy Solution has over 200 patents in this tech field, with its first LMR patent secured in 2010. LG Energy Solution is a spin-off company of LG Chem, a leading global maker of lithium-ion batteries for EVs, energy storage systems, mobility, and IT. The organization aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its business process chain by 2050. Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution, added in GM's announcement: "We're excited to introduce the first-ever LMR prismatic cells for EVs, the culmination of our decades-long research and investment in the technology." LMR battery tech's ability to integrate into GM's battery supply chain and cell manufacturing promotes investments in domestic battery production and the responsible sourcing of critical materials from North America. This achievement is especially significant with President Trump's recently imposed tariffs, which push to localize supply chains and reduce reliance on imported battery materials. The LMR battery's prismatic design replaces the pouch format used in GM's current high-nickel packs, allowing for more efficient packaging in larger trucks and SUVs. This optimized packaging lowers the number of necessary parts and reduces costs, theoretically creating savings for consumers. Cost reduction here is vital, as GM electric trucks with leading range, like the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range, hold a $75,195 base price. GM's current electric truck lineup uses NMCA batteries with 5% cobalt, but the automaker's upcoming LMR tech uses "virtually no cobalt," according to its press release. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Miami Herald
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
This Groundbreaking Battery Tech Is Coming In 2026, But What Is It?
If you think Detroit automakers are laggards in offering electric vehicles (EVs), guess again. General Motors is currently leading the pack, offering the Cadillac Celestiq, Cadillac Escalade IQ, Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac Lyriq-V, Cadillac Optiq, Cadillac Vistiq, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV Pickup, GMC Hummer EV SUV, and GMC Sierra EV, all of which are fueled by electrons, not petroleum. General Motors and LG Energy Solution are developing lithium manganese-rich prismatic battery cells, or LMRs, for use in future GM vehicles. GM plans to be the first automaker to use LMR batteries in its EVs beginning in 2028. The breakthrough battery chemistry will allow for electric vehicle (EV) batteries that are 30% more energy dense than current ones, yet cost the same as the lithium iron phosphate batteries, or LFPs, currently in use. "We're excited to introduce the first-ever LMR prismatic cells for EVs, the culmination of our decades-long research and investment in the technology," said Wonjoon Suh, executive vice-president and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution. "GM's future trucks powered by this new chemistry are a strong example of our shared commitment." The announcement follows a similar one made by Charles Poon, Director of Electrified Propulsion Engineering at Ford, on April 23rd. "This isn't just a lab experiment. We're actively working to scale LMR cell chemistry and integrate them into our future vehicle lineup within this decade." Poon cited the LMR batteries' lower production cost, higher energy density, enhanced stability and safety as key factors in their superiority. Ford started their EV offerings with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) batteries, later adding lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in 2023. To understand how these batteries differ from those currently in use, you must understand how a battery works. Simply put, electricity is produced in a battery from a reaction between the anode, which creates electrons, and a reaction in the cathode, which absorbs them. Electrolytes allow the electric charge to flow between the cathode and the anode. The net product is electricity. GM's Ultium platform currently employs nickel manganese cobalt aluminum oxide batteries, also known as NCM, which uses 85% nickel, 5% cobalt, and 10% manganese for its cathode coating. However, cobalt and nickel are expensive, and cobalt is known to be mined with child labor, which is a human rights concern. Another widely used battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, which costs about 20% less than an NCM battery, but China has a near monopoly in LFP cell manufacturing, according to S&P Global. In contrast, LMR batteries use roughly 35% nickel, 65% manganese, and virtually no cobalt. Given that it's the fifth most common element on Earth and widely available, manganese is far less expensive than nickel and cobalt. LMR batteries cost roughly the same to produce as LFP batteries, while being 33% more energy dense. GM plans to produce rectangular prismatic cells rather than the pouch cells currently being used, enhancing the packaging efficiency and reducing the number of components by as much as 75%. Additionally, LMR chemistry works well with bigger cell sizes, which lowers system costs even more. While the Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck with Max Range has an EPA-rated range of 492 miles, it uses an NCM battery. Using an LMR battery would allow GM to deliver similar range and lower the price, which now starts at $57,095 and tops out at $97,895. While GM began researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells in 2015, performance and durability haven't been up to par. Historically, they've suffered from a short lifespan, losing voltage in a short period of time, but GM and LG Energy Solution state that they have overcome such obstacles by "adding proprietary dopants and coatings, along with particle engineering, process innovations, to achieve the right energy density and arrangement of battery materials inside the cell to keep them stable," according to a GM press release. The research and development at GM's Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren, Michigan, has led to the corporate partners holding more than 200 patents around the world on LMR-related technology. Ultimately, GM sees the technology providing more range at a lower cost, which should help bring down the cost of EVs, a sticking point in their journey towards being more widely accepted. According to Cox Automotive, the average price paid for a new car in March 2025 was $47,462. By comparison, the average price paid for an electric car was $59,205 – a 22% price premium and the highest in a couple of years. Such price realities are driving the research to reduce battery costs, while tariffs are pushing automakers to rely less on China for their minerals and components. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM and LG Energy to commercialise LMR battery cell tech
General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced what they claim is a breakthrough in battery technology with plans to commercialise lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells. These cells are designed for GM's future electric trucks and full-size SUVs, marking an advancement in the electric vehicle (EV) sector. The collaboration aims to position GM as the first automaker to implement LMR batteries in EVs, the company said. Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, is gearing up to commence commercial production of the LMR prismatic cells in the US by 2028, with pre-production activities slated to begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. The final production design will undergo validation at GM's upcoming Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, Michigan, and LG Energy Solution's facility. LMR battery cells are notable for their use of manganese, a more cost-effective material compared to cobalt, which is traditionally used in battery cathodes. The new LMR prismatic battery cell developed by engineers from both companies boasts a 33% increase in energy density compared to leading lithium iron phosphate (LFP) based cells, while maintaining comparable costs. Since 2015, GM has been researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells, accelerating the development of LMR cells at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center. Collaborative efforts have led to advancements in cathode materials, electrolytes, additives, form factors, and cell assembly processes, addressing previous challenges in performance and durability associated with LMR technology. LG Energy Solution Advanced Automotive Battery division executive VP and head Wonjoon Suh said: 'We're excited to introduce the first-ever LMR prismatic cells for EVs, the culmination of our decades-long research and investment in the technology. "GM's future trucks powered by this new chemistry are a strong example of our shared commitment to offering diverse EV options to consumers.' Also, General Motors reported a loss of $2.96bn for the fourth quarter of 2024, a downturn from a profit of $2.1bn in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. "GM and LG Energy to commercialise LMR battery cell tech" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
