GM mulling cylindrical cells for future EVs

In a probably vital shift for the Detroit automaker, Normal Motors is contemplating cylindrical battery cells for future EVs, in line with TheElec, a battery-focused South Korean commerce publication.

GM has favored pouch cells equipped by South Korean provider LG Power Resolution, however might change to the 4680-format cylindrical cells utilized by Tesla, the publication reported, including that this has brought on talks with LG Power Resolution over development of a fourth battery plant for the Ultium Cells three way partnership between the 2 firms to stall.

2024 GMC Sierra EV Denali Version 1

Up to now, Ultium Cells, which is backed by a $2.5 billion Power Division mortgage, has introduced joint-venture battery crops in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan—all targeted round constructing the large-format pouch-type cells that GM has mentioned will underpin the whole lot from smaller household autos just like the Equinox EV to the GMC Hummer EV and BrightDrop cargo vans.

The fourth plant, which GM had beforehand mentioned was on the way in which, is conspicuously lacking from these bulletins.

It is unclear whether or not GM is perhaps searching for the cylindrical batteries for its upcoming reasonably priced Ultium platform being developed with Honda, or whether or not that is for the principle Ultium platform, as suspected.

BrightDrop EV410

GM has mentioned that one of many methods it may well get to economies of scale and being all-in on EVs is by specializing in the identical battery format in nearly each EV product besides the smallest vehicles, so it is unclear how a shift to cylindrical cells would have an effect on this technique.

Different automakers, corresponding to Stellantis and Volvo, have additionally hinted at plans to make use of cylindrical cells, TheElec famous. In August and September, BMW confirmed a shift to cylindrical batteries in upcoming EVs, after a number of months of trade studies and rumors.

The cylindrical format additionally occurs to be the one utilized by three U.S. range-leading manufacturers: Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid. Established automakers have nonetheless prevented cylindrical batteries, though that seems to lastly be altering.