General Motors has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with GE Renewable Energy as the two companies set out to evaluate potential opportunities to improve supplies of heavy and light rare earth materials and magnets, copper, and electrical steel compounds that are used for manufacturing EVs and other renewable energy equipment.
“A secure, sustainable and resilient local supply chain for electric vehicle materials is critical to the execution of GM’s vision of an all-electric future,” said Shilpan Amin, General Motors vice president for Global Purchasing and Supply Chain. “Motors are one of the most important components of our Ultium Platform, and the heavy and light rare earth materials are an essential ingredient in our motor magnets. The combined scale of GM and GE will enable us to unlock the potential for securing low-carbon footprint, ESG-friendly, secure and cost competitive materials.”
The initial focus of the collaboration will be on creating a North America- and Europe-based supply chain of vertically integrated magnet manufacturing that both companies will use in the future. Metal alloys and finished magnets produced from rare earth materials are critical components used in manufacturing electric motors for automotive and renewable power generation.
GE Renewable Energy Chief Technology Officer Danielle Merfeld said, “At GE Renewable Energy, we constantly innovate, both through our products like the Haliade-X, the most powerful offshore wind turbine built today, as well as by developing strategic collaborations that can help us accelerate the energy transition. Working with GM gives us another tool to obtain a reliable, sustainable, and competitive source of key materials going forward that will help us lower the cost of renewable energy and drive more electrification by making EVs a more viable option for consumers. We are also excited to partner with GM to explore opportunities to develop critical supply chains in the U.S. and further reduce CO2 emissions.”
On a related note, GM and Wolfspeed recently announced a strategic supplier agreement to develop and provide silicon carbide power device solutions for GM’s future electric vehicle programs. Much like the aforementioned rare materials, the silicon carbide will specifically be used in the integrated power electronics contained within GM’s Ultium Drive units in its next-generation EVs, including the upcoming Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer EV.
General Motors also just announced the Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center, an all-new facility that will significantly expand the company’s battery technology operations and accelerate development and commercialization of longer range, more affordable EV batteries.
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Comments
This is great. But the USA has not addressed the gross problem of an inadequate power grid to handle the 600% increase in electric power load needed across the nation — and how to manage 5-6 time annual coastal FEMA mass evacuation order when relying on electric power for the exodus and return of 10 million people for each storm. This must also address the likely local and regional destruction of power generation (wind, solar, power lines, etc,). I dont even hear this discussed with the “infrastructure” bill that only tags 15% to roads and bridges. The current use of electric to charge 2nd cars is sporadic and will not be supported when this scales-up.
I was about to say, where is GM’s massive investment in coal plants! I’m really afraid that this will end up like the .com bubble. If they tank this, it will officially kill of EV’s for a generation, regardless of what new technology comes along.
Dan Simeon
600%. NO WAY Norway!
Over 1/3 of all vehicles in Norway are electric, and their not having problems with their electric grid.
How about you go Fk yourself, and generate your 600% that way.
Wow that was real mature nice personal attack Peter.
Dan Simeon
My apologies for the profanity, but your argument is over the top, and you’re quoting ridiculous numbers.
Only 30% of our energy is used for Transportation. Heating and Cooling our homes and building consumes 50% of our energy with refrigeration talking up most of the rest.
Also the 250 million vehicles on U.S. roads, will take at least 30 years to go electric.