GM Battery Center: Cheaper, Longer-Range Batteries on the Horizon

General Motors Advances Battery Technology with New Innovation Center

General Motors is currently constructing a new facility on its Warren, Michigan, campus. This development is strategically designed to foster advancements in cell technology, ultimately reducing battery costs and extending vehicle range.

Facility Details and Timeline

The initial phase of the Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center, encompassing approximately 300,000 square feet, is being built on the grounds of GM’s Global Technical Center. Completion is anticipated by mid-2022.

Future expansion is planned, with projections indicating the center could grow to be at least three times its original size, contingent on evolving needs. GM has indicated an investment of “hundreds of millions” of dollars into this project.

Honoring Bill Wallace

The center is named in recognition of Bill Wallace, a former GM director instrumental in the development of battery systems for vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt, Malibu Hybrid, and Bolt EV. Mr. Wallace, who passed away in 2018, was also pivotal in establishing GM’s research and development partnership with LG Chem (now LG Energy Solution).

Consolidating GM’s Battery Research

GM already maintains laboratories and an R&D facility dedicated to creating more affordable and energy-dense batteries. This new center will serve as a central hub, integrating all of GM’s battery-related initiatives.

This includes work being conducted within its chemical and materials subsystems, as well as its battery systems laboratories.

Ambitious Performance Goals

GM is targeting the development of batteries with an energy density reaching up to 1,200 watt-hours per liter. A cost reduction of at least 60% is also a key objective.

Achieving these goals is considered a crucial step for GM to maintain competitiveness within the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market, where numerous automakers are transitioning to electric or predominantly electric vehicle lineups.

The Ultium Platform as a Foundation

Currently, GM’s transition to electric vehicles is built upon its Ultium platform and Ultium lithium-ion batteries. This new electric architecture and battery system, unveiled in 2020, is designed to support a diverse range of vehicles across GM’s brands.

This includes everything from compact cars to large SUVs and performance vehicles.

Strategic Partnerships and Manufacturing

GM has committed $5 billion to a joint venture with LG Energy Solutions for Ultium cell battery manufacturing. This collaboration will establish battery cell assembly plants in Lordstown, Ohio, and Spring Hill, Tennessee, creating over 1,100 jobs.

Ultium Battery Innovations

The Ultium batteries are engineered to minimize the use of cobalt, a rare earth material. They also utilize a standardized cell design, enabling more efficient configuration for increased energy density and reduced size compared to existing GM batteries.

Future Battery Development at the Wallace Center

According to Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, the Wallace Center will be instrumental in developing the cells that will underpin more affordable EVs with extended range in the future.

However, it’s important to note that the advancements originating from this center will not be immediately integrated into the current generation of Ultium batteries.

Accelerating Next-Generation Technologies

Work at the Wallace Center is expected to expedite the development of emerging battery technologies, including lithium-metal, silicon, and solid-state batteries.

The center will also concentrate on refining production processes applicable to battery cell manufacturing plants, including the joint ventures with LG in Lordstown and Spring Hill, as well as other undisclosed U.S. locations.

Large-Format Prototype Cell Production

The new facility will possess the capability to manufacture large-format prototype lithium-metal battery cells for automotive applications. This surpasses the typical small-scale lithium-metal cells used in portable devices or research settings.

These cells, potentially reaching 1,000 mm in size – nearly double the dimensions of initial Ultium pouch cells – will be based on GM’s proprietary chemical formulation.