Not like most different so-called “conventional” automakers who’re making an attempt to go electrical, Basic Motors appears to have discovered the key sauce: whoever controls the batteries controls the longer term. And two promising electrical fashions are about to profit from GM’s battery developments that ought to make automobiles cheaper to purchase.
A brand new report from Bloomberg Businessweek goes deep into GM’s battery technique, which has been to use the identical battery cells and modules for each electrical car it makes and craft all of them in-house.
That technique has definitely had its hiccups, resulting in a tough 2023 specifically, however the Basic has since sorted out a lot of these points and used the technique to scale up battery manufacturing whereas getting prices down. That is additionally why GM is approaching profitability with its EVs.
That was the 1st step. Step two is branching out into totally different battery chemistries and configurations, as different automakers do. Among the many fruits of that effort can be a lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery, very similar to Ford, BYD and different automakers use, with a view to lower prices.
For anybody not fascinated by the intricacies of battery chemistry, meaning cheaper automobiles. GM will use LFP batteries in a brand new model of the Chevrolet Silverado EV truck, in addition to the revived Chevrolet Bolt EUV, GM battery government Kurt Kelty instructed the journal.
A Silverado EV with LFP batteries ought to provide 350 miles of vary, Kelty stated, down from the opposite variants’ 492 miles of vary. However it is going to be $6,000 cheaper, he stated.
The Silverado EV might use the assistance in the case of cost-cutting. A gas-powered Silverado may be had within the $40,000 to $50,000 vary. However the pared-down Silverado EV Work Truck (WT) begins at $55,000 and the present civilian model of the electrical truck begins at $73,100. The RST First Version I examined final yr value $96,000. If it may actually lower $6,000 off these costs and provide a still-impressive 350 miles of vary, it needs to be a way more stable deal.
2026 Chevrolet Bolt Rendered
(The journal’s report provided little in the best way of details about the brand new Bolt, besides when the author glanced at a “sporty-looking crossover” idea referred to as the Funbolt.)
LFP batteries have emerged as a vital device for getting EV prices down, each on the manufacturing aspect and for customers. Whereas they do not have as a lot power density—and thus, much less vary—than conventional lithium-ion batteries, they’re cheaper to make. Consider them because the small, four-cylinder engines of the EV world; not each powerplant must be a top-shelf one. Tesla, some Ford Mustang Mach-E variants, Zeekr and varied BYD fashions all use LFP batteries. Extra are coming throughout the business.
Final yr, GM confirmed it might discontinue the “Ultium” branding to introduce new battery choices, together with LFP models. On the time, Kelty stated that going with LFP batteries would enable for less complicated and cheaper pack manufacturing by slashing the variety of modules in every pack by as much as 75%. As he reiterated to Bloomberg Businessweek, that ought to translate to $6,000 off of each single EV it produces from one era to a different.
Contact the writer: patrick.george@insideevs.com
