Multinational conglomerate Honeywell recently announced that it is working with Ultium Cells LLC to implement the Honeywell Quality Control System (QCS) for lithium-ion battery production at Ultium Cells’ new manufacturing facility in Lordstown, Ohio.
Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is currently constructing a new 2.8 million square-foot lithium-ion battery plant that will provide battery units for a range of General Motors vehicles, including the Cadillac Lyriq luxury crossover, as well the as off-roading GMC Hummer EV Pickup and Hummer EV SUV. The new facility is due for completion next year, and will be one of the largest electric vehicle battery plants in the U.S.
The new Honeywell QCS will include high-precision scanners and basis weight sensors on four of the assembly lines at the new Lordstown plant. The system will measure electrode coat weight to help ensure quality control.
“We chose Honeywell because of the company’s deep understanding of the lithium-ion battery sector and the fact its measurement and control technology is already being used in critical areas of manufacturing,” said Planning Director at Ultium Cells, Germanus Woo. “Given the depth of their knowledge, Honeywell is well positioned to offer us insights, helping us to increase productivity and profitability as we grow.”
The new Ultium Cells battery plant in Lordstown is the product of a joint investment totaling more than $2.3 billion. The new facility is expected to employ more than 1,100 workers.
The announcement of new Honeywell quality control for the Ultium Cells production facility follows the expansion of an exiting battery recall for the Chevy Bolt EV to include all models and model years, as well as the new Chevy Bolt EUV. Some units of the Chevy Bolt EV and Bolt EUV, which are equipped with battery packs manufactured by LG Energy Solutions, could have a manufacturing defect that has been linked to several fires.
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Comments
Hope they get their moneys worth battery recalls hit the bottom line hard.
Quality control of all automakers EV plans will set the table for the future of each.
Back in the days of ICE if you just broke down 3 times on a trip was a success. Today’s standards are so much higher today.
For sure all will have issues but how well the issues are contained and responded to will determine customer trust.
I suspect many early EV owners will get better service than we have seen in a century.
I suspect using your theory Toyota and Honda will be the last two standing.
Not really.
He who executes the transition the best wins.
Keep in mind Honda is choosing to work with GM so their fates are tied.
Toyota is starting at Zero like everyone else and they are not perfect either.
Choosing the right suppliers and quality controls will be the biggest thing.
I thought I heard Honda changed there mind on that.
Nope, Honda’s first two Pure EV CUVS in the US will be made using the Ultium platform.
Future EVs may be under their new E-Architecture platform but right now GM is their provider.
You know what GM’s real problem is? Software and integration. If Tesla has a battery problem the mothership can get into the diagnostics of each car while the owners sleep, and fix it. GM does not yet have this capability. Tesla cars are like an iPhone hooked to iCloud, they can diagnose fleet wide, and send repairs quickly.
I remember a couple years ago Consumer Reports complained about the brakes on the Model 3, not stopping from speed consistently. 3 days later Tesla sent an Over the Air software update and fixed the fleet. This is a big problem for GM going forward, they need help on software and integration fast.
GM’s latest global B architecture does this. Corvette and I think a couple of caddy’s use the new architecture. BUT, it is not a panacea. Bet you did not know a Scandanavian has 3 times breached Tesla and could have done anything to every tesla on the road. He was a white hat and collected a reward from tesla. But a black hat could have been a very different outcome. Personally, I am not anxious to have OTA updates. I think it is not if, but when someone gets hit hard. As to software, LMAO, yeah that GUI on the 3 that makes everything go thru the touchscreen. Yeah, that is software at its best.
NO, GM VIP architecture does not do what Tesla can do, data either way, or data to all modules.
GM is way behind, and has had to recall C8 for software updates, etc…
In order for GM to catch up, they first have to develop their own software operating system, and then have software control of all modules of the car the way Tesla does. Currently GM buys engine management software from one company, transmission from another, and infotainment for yet another supplier, HVAC software from another supplier… etc… . Tesla does all this in house, Motor Control software, BMS software, infotainment, sound system, charging software, Tesla built their own charging network which software integrates to the cars perfectly. GM’s new architecture is not the same, not in the slightest. GM just bought parts in a catalog and slaps them together, but twhen there is a problem, GM has to get on the horn with all these suppliers, and work through channels to fix it, then recall the cars back to the dealer.
You notice all the start ups Tesla Rivian, Lucid, BYD, Xpeng, NIO, all build their own software stack for all modules, this is an advantage (both in cost and capability). VW is now developing a new software platform for their brands, which will be similar, but it costs a lot, and takes a long time to catch up. VW says they hope to roll it out into a couple models in 2024. GM will be way behind even VW, because the leadership does not understand, future cars are software based, not hardware/software modules ordered from catalogs, and fit into the cars.
“GM is way behind, and has had to recall C8 for software updates, etc…”
The recalls were put there as required for safety updates, and to alert users of these updates. But GM did push the software updates to the Corvettes themselves OTA to update engine control modules and to adjust the programming of the Hood Latch.
The VIP architecture is in the new Full sized trucks including the new Corvette and Caddi CT4 and 5.
GM has shown that they can now remotely update all the firmware of the components.
They even highlighted this during the 2022 Silvarado reveal event.
https://youtu.be/YWYm_z4I8fM?t=760
Thanks for the link.
And on the Bolt? Gm owners have been asked to bring Bolt’s back 3 times now, and there is another upcoming software update.
GM VIP can update some but not all modules over the air. GM says these limits are for security, but its really because GM does not have their own OS, and so they are relying on suppliers for their software. Even the new trucks and HummerEv use a google android base infotainment system, not GM’s own OS. GM continues to lag the startups, and that will bite them in the future. VW sees this and is working hard to get out in front of it, but GM just pumping more money into suppliers software systems. Bad strategy!!!
The Bolt does not use “VIP” (Global B) it’s still on the old “Global A” system they talked about this in an interview. That’s why it couldn’t use the most up to date Super Cruise system.
I don’t recall GM stating they couldn’t update all the modules because of security for VIP please source this.
GM multiple times explained what VIP can do and in their videos highlighting the system and explained how it can update each and every module. Even during the Corvette recall they shared a video how it worked.
As for infotainment systems… the majority of companies have moved or are moving to the Android based Infotainment systems. Look at Polstar it’s the same underlying Android Automotive system as GM is using just with a different top level UI. This makes it far more friendlier to developers and opens the Infotainment system up for more apps to be developed and released.
https://source.android.com/devices/automotive/start/what_automotive
OnStar has been capable of monitoring your vehicle for well over a decade. Anything you could get from an OBDC scanner can be pulled via OnStar. Your vehicle is always monitored unless you explicitly opt out.
@ c8.R…YES YES YES and I HOPE SO. Its funny how some complain and are quick to bash new products that are still in their infancy…yet the current products have taken how long to get to where they are? 100years?…too funny. I want it all quicker so I can enjoy it all before I die even if there are glitches….uh short of fires!
Some people value the lives of there fellow humans more then vehicles that shouldn’t be out yet because they aren’t ready.
If a vehicle manufacturer sold enough vehicles in one year, say 2 million and they all had defective batteries, it could theoretically bankrupt them.
Bankruptcy is the least of their issues.
A company shows up with the new EV with just one bad battery in a high selling model it will kill sales for all their models.
Without a past track record it is more difficult to forgive vs just saying oh it was just that engine in that car.
The first 10 years will be critical to establish a totally new image for quality. Everyone is going to be set back to zero in this new start.
Of course they don’t care about bankruptcy why would they? They know the government will bail them out again if things go wrong lol. I mean how is it that 80% of the citizens here did not want banks or these automotive companies to get tax payer money to bail them out over mistakes they made then the senate also voted no but guess what? The president signed an EO and gave it to them anyways.
Even if they are who will buy their cars if the fail? Bail pouts will only delay the fate.
Let’s face it brand loyalty will not be what it was with these new models. This is a reset for the entire industry.
The government will not bail GM out again, they do not need to, our manufacturing industrial base is growing. The most valuable automaker in the world is an American company, and not GM or Ford. Rivian and Lucid are starting production this month, and with products that blow away anything the general has done. GM better move and move fast, or Toyota will be the least of their worries.
Stop it you are lying if you believe the government would ever let this company go under. Get out of here with that nonsense
Gm employs many many people and a complete bankruptcy would have been very bad for the US and the world. You
Nah, a startup would pickup the slack and hire the manufacturing people in the case GM went BK again. Which is not likely BTW, GM is behind, but the are not stupid, they will work to catch up, but too slow… GM is also being on modern corporate communications, another spot where Ford is eating GM’s lunch.
Lol dude are you high? Do you live in a state like California where they don’t care if you do drugs? Because the things you are saying you gotta be high. First off what startup company could pickup the slack for an automotive giant like gm? Do you understand how many employees they have? Do you understand how long there supply chain is who also has tons of employees? Put the dope down bro go to an NA meeting get help people are there for you.
Wow, what a nice comment… Well how many employees did Kodak have before they didn’t? How many employees did Sears have before they didn’t?
You see Sears went away, and a little startup called Amazon was right there to pick up the slack.
Kodak went away and now most photos are taken on smart phones
You see that stupid little EV startup in CA that now has a market cap of 10X GM, and has business growing at greater than 50% per year globally. Now watch Lucid and Rivian in the USA, Xpeng, and BYD in China. They are all growing fast , while GM is losing market share. Meanwhile every long range EV GM has ever built has been recalled for battery replacements due to fire risk.
If GM goes bankrupt again, the start ups can sift through the ashes and pick up the good pieces and talented employees, and the world will go on, just like it did without Kodak, Nokia, and Sears.
Amazon is bigger then any of these automotive companies could ever dream of being. And they continue to grow even bigger. Also amazon was already well established long before the last sears store went under. So that’s a terrible comparison no wonder you get so many down votes.
It wasn’t long ago when Amazon was a tiny startup. My niece started there when there were less than 500 employees.
I clearly do not care how many downvotes I get. I am not here to be popular with the mental midgets on this site.
Amazon was a startup company 27 years ago.
Tesla started 18 years ago.
Tesla is still small. It may be valued high but it does not have the number of products or manufacturing facilities to completely fill the void that GM has.
We are still several decades away from that point.
Besides the government isn’t going to lose a valued DPA partner at this time.
I marvel at all the “expert” naysayers posting here. You all are so full of yourselves. We don’t know any of your credentials so these are just some opinions by anonymous Internet trolls.
Wait you mean people commenting on a gm website aren’t experts and this is all just there opinions? I don’t believe you everyone here is in management who told you otherwise?
then do read the comments. This website is for people who like the vehicles so no $hit there not experts this is the stupidest thing I have read on here in a while.
Troll and racist, the two best words to shut people up.
But alas, it didn’t work for one!
If I call you a troll and a racist does that mean you will shut up?
Lets not cheapen the product for some to make millions like some do.
GM is currently turning its back on literally 1000’s of GM Cadillac Owners who purchased cars which have a bad 8 speed transmission. I am an owner. There are Class-Action lawsuits against General Motors who refuses to take care of the problem claiming it is not life threatening and this type of defect is not necessarily covered by the warranty? At times the transmission will shift, or try to shift violently (not an exaggeration) making clunking sounds which can be felt by occupants of the vehicle. My wife has refused to drive the car.
That being said, I don’t believe all customers want to rely on GM taking care of the possible associated battery problems in a “Customer Friendly Way”. I, along with many family members have been GM customers for many years. But, this problem is just to much deal with in so many ways. JDM 9/26/2021