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GM Already Working On Second Generation Of Ultium Batteries

The first vehicle with General Motors‘ new Ultium batteries won’t enter production until late next year, but the automaker says it’s already hard at work developing the second-generation of the modular battery system.

GMC Hummer EV platform with Ultium battery

In a presentation during the 2020 Barclay’s Global Automotive Conference earlier this week, GM’s vice president of global product development, Doug Parks, said the second-generation of its Ultium modular battery architecture and cell chemistry will launch by mid-decade and will put it at the forefront of EV battery development.

“By the time, we get to the next generation of Ultium, which we’re already working on, likely by mid-decade, we’ll see a 60 percent cost improvement versus the Bolt EV, for example, while getting twice the energy density,” Parks said. “This is big stuff. For this and many other reasons, we expect to be on the leading edge of performance and cost compared to anyone and everyone else in the EV space.”

Doug Parks

The second-generation Ultium batteries should also help GM EVs come closer to achieving cost parity with traditional internal combustion engine vehicles, Parks said. The automaker’s battery cell manufacturing joint venture with supplier LG Chem is key to these cost reductions.

“Our manufacturing approach also affects the cost curve,” Parks explained. “It’s a complex and developing manufacturing process and having a strong joint venture like we do with LG is the way to win. Manufacturing and joint ventures allow us to excel in operating equipment efficiency, first time quality and waste recycling.”

GM Ultium batteries feature a modular design that allows the automaker to create batteries with single stacks of six, eight, 10 or 12 modules for cars or crossovers, or to double-stack as many as 24 modules for larger trucks and SUVs. The 2022 GMC Hummer EV First Edition that will go on sale next year features a large Ultium battery believed to be around 200 kWh in capacity, which provides a GM-estimated 350 miles of range. In certain vehicles, Ultium batteries will be able to provide a GM-estimated 450 miles of range. This modular design will remain for the second-generation of Ultium batteries, but with the benefit if improved cell chemistry.

“When new technology and chemistry become available, we can change the cell while preserving the overall battery architecture,” said Parks. “This flexibility will enable us to build EVs in every segment from performance vehicles to family haulers, to work trucks. And we don’t have to reengineer specific components from battery packs, to the wireless battery monitoring system within them, every time we bring a new vehicle to market.”

Prototypes of the second-generation Ultium batteries have been built at the GM R&D Cell Fabrication Lab in Warren, Michigan and the automaker says the pre-production cells are already more than halfway through durability testing.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. The architecture seems almost future proof which is important considering we’re on the verge of seeing solid state battery technology showing up in EVs. With solid state, charging times will be dramatically reduced and mileage will see a huge boost.

    Reply
    1. They’re shooting themselves in the foot just to make a temporary daily price movement buzz in the stock market! Tell me why exactly a consumer who read this good news would buy a first gen ultium car from GM if they already know just after three years they would be discontinued and replaced with much better second gen?

      Reply
      1. Because someone who needs a car now can’t wait 3 years. If you are always, scared of improvement around the corner, you will never buy anything.

        Reply
      2. For the same reason people are buying a Bolt EV with even older battery tech, they need a car now and they’re selling at a 15k-16k discount off sticker currently.

        Reply
  2. Changing and improving battery formulation is a must in a EV environment as changing and improving battery performance can save General Motors $Billions; improving batteries will allow General Motors to gain marketshare.

    Reply
  3. Gen 2 batteries in 2025 and Cadillac EV blitz finishing in 2025. The picture is slowly becoming clearer.

    Reply
  4. This will be like any electronic. The pace of advancement will be much yearly.

    Reply
  5. Great, another 10 year wait for a GM product, just like all the rest of their electric vehicles.

    Reply
    1. “the second-generation of its Ultium modular battery architecture and cell chemistry will launch by mid-decade”

      aNoThEr 10 yEaR wAit

      Reply
      1. “Mid-decade” is 5 years away.

        Reply
    2. Mid decade is only 4 years away, and there are plenty of GM EVs coming between now and then.

      Reply
  6. This is all very exciting.

    Reply
  7. “Ultium” batteries look like the usual GM over hyped product! The EV Hummer is probably one of the worst decisions yet made by GM for a variety of reasons which I’ll let the buying public and GM figure out on their own.

    GM, “Ultium” and their slimy Nikola partners manage to out do themselves with each over promised and under delivered uber-hyped product that we all expect of GM.

    Good luck GM… You’re going to need it!

    Reply
    1. Your Tesla, shares are dropping. Maybe you should go sell whole you are up, rather than post about GM’s future.

      Reply
  8. what is the range when your car sets out all night on 0 degree weather ???

    Reply
  9. I wonder if I could own an “Ultium” skateboard and buy 2 totally different bodies? A convertible for the summer and a truck body for winter? Also, if the batteries are really “million mile” batteries, will it be possible to buy a vehicle now with the “Ultium” skateboard and years later when the body wears (rusts) out just buy a new body to put on the “Ultium” skateboard? If the battery is the most expensive part then separating the battery from the body makes a lot of economic sense!

    Reply
  10. I talk to Tesla owners and they rave about the car. The one thing they all have in common is they don’t drive very far.

    Reply
    1. A range of 350 miles will work for 99.9% of people outside that once every 3 or so year road trip that my wife and I do.

      Reply
      1. Believe it or not… IF GM manages to load up the car with a ton of batteries and actually gets (Your Mileage May Vary) 350 miles off of one charge what are you going to do when the battery capacity drops by 50% (along with the range) in three years? As a FORMER EV car owner I know what games the industry plays. Nissan, Honda, GM and others all play the same deceptive EV game.

        Toyota is one of the exceptions. Toyota sells ZERO all electric cars in the US. Toyota also still uses nickel-metal hydride batteries in their hybrids. Is this because Toyota is stupid? Or does Toyota know something that MOST EV consumers don’t know?

        Reply
  11. how many owners want to stand around for hours in freezing cold weather waiting for a charge ?? will charging stations have a place to go inside to stay warm ?? this is why i say EVs will only work for people who have a home charging station in snow country.

    Reply
    1. Fast charge takes about 30 minutes, and you can stay inside the warm vehicle. No need to stand outside holding the charge plug. Or go inside and grab a snack or whatever. Many chargers are at service stations.

      Reply
  12. Nissan promised YEARS AGO when they first released the Leaf that there would be charging stations ALL OVER the United States. That obviously didn’t happen which wasn’t any big surprise. Nissan also lowered the price of the Leaf by $10,000 when the $10k EV tax credit expired. (Translates to Nissan received $10k from the US government for EVERY Leaf they sold in those tax credit years). Nissan also deceptively fudged their battery capacity reporting software in order to circumvent battery replacements. NO single or car company conglomerate is going to install a proper charging infrastructure. i.e. The only way a proper charging infrastructure will happen is when Uncle Sam pays for it. Also note that with the current battery chemistry charge times are NOT practical and when you do a “fast” charge the batteries WILL suffer.

    Believe it or not… IF GM manages to load up the car with a ton of batteries and actually gets (Your Mileage May Vary) 350 miles off of one charge what are you going to do when the battery capacity drops by 50% (along with the range) in three years? As a FORMER EV car owner I know what games the industry plays. Nissan, Honda, GM and others all play the same deceptive EV game.

    Toyota is one of the exceptions. Toyota sells ZERO all electric cars in the US. Toyota also still uses nickel-metal hydride batteries in their hybrids. Is this because Toyota is stupid? Or does Toyota know something that MOST EV consumers don’t know?

    Reply

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