GM and LG Energy Solution in 'feasibility talks' for second Ultium battery cells project in US
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Workers signed the final steel beam as part of last month's Ultium Cells plant topping out ceremony. Photo: GM
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General Motors and their Ultium Cells joint venture partner, LG Energy Solution (LES), are discussing plans to build a second electric vehicle battery manufacturing facility in the US, GM has told World Battery News.
GM and LES, South Korea's LG Chem subsidiary, are "exploring the feasibility of constructing a second, state-of-the-art battery cell manufacturing plant”, a GM spokesperson confirmed.
The spokesperson did not comment on speculation that the second plant could be built Tennessee, but said: "We hope to have a decision on the potential project in the first half of 2021.”
Construction on the first Ultium Cells plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which will produce batteries for GM’s new-generation electric vehicles range, started last summer. The partners are investing $2.3bn (£1.7bn) in that project, which will span nearly three million square feet when complete – expected in 2022.
Construction milestone
The construction team hoisted and installed the final beam of the steel building structure at Lordstown last month, as part of a traditional ‘topping out' ceremony.
GM and LG Chem have said previously that the joint venture will drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh. The cells use a proprietary chemistry featuring LG Chem’s NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium) cathode, which requires 70% less cobalt than existing NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) cells.
The Ultium large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. GM said Ultium energy options "range from 50 to 200 kWh, which could enable a GM-estimated range up to 400 miles or more on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph acceleration as low as three seconds”.
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GM and LES, South Korea's LG Chem subsidiary, are "exploring the feasibility of constructing a second, state-of-the-art battery cell manufacturing plant”, a GM spokesperson confirmed.
The spokesperson did not comment on speculation that the second plant could be built Tennessee, but said: "We hope to have a decision on the potential project in the first half of 2021.”
Construction on the first Ultium Cells plant in Lordstown, Ohio, which will produce batteries for GM’s new-generation electric vehicles range, started last summer. The partners are investing $2.3bn (£1.7bn) in that project, which will span nearly three million square feet when complete – expected in 2022.
Construction milestone
The construction team hoisted and installed the final beam of the steel building structure at Lordstown last month, as part of a traditional ‘topping out' ceremony.
GM and LG Chem have said previously that the joint venture will drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh. The cells use a proprietary chemistry featuring LG Chem’s NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium) cathode, which requires 70% less cobalt than existing NCM (nickel-cobalt-manganese) cells.
The Ultium large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. GM said Ultium energy options "range from 50 to 200 kWh, which could enable a GM-estimated range up to 400 miles or more on a full charge with 0 to 60 mph acceleration as low as three seconds”.
Related articles in our archive: