The Ultium Cells plant in Warren, Ohio, which operates as a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution, conducted public fire and safety training with several fire departments in mid-April 2023, looking to better prepare first responders and second responders for incidents involving electric vehicles.
The Illinois Fire Service Institute (IFSI) and OnStar also participated in the training. The fire departments involved included those of Lordstown, Warren, and Newton Falls, with approximately 50 personnel present in total from all three.
The training program lasted for more than two hours and included hands-on demonstrations in how to correctly handle EV emergencies. GM and Ultium did not specify exactly what the training involved in the press release, but noted the event included material on the Cadillac Lyriq, the Chevy Bolt EV, and the GMC Hummer EV Pickup.
The Ultium Cells facility in Warren is the only Ultium Cells battery plant currently operational, producing U.S.-made batteries for GM electric vehicles. Two other factories are currently under construction. One of these, the Ultium Cells Spring Hill plant in Tennessee, is expected to begin production in late 2023. The other, Ultium Cells Lansing in Michigan, likely won’t be operational until almost a year later than Spring Hill in late 2024.
While GM wants to construct a fourth Ultium Cells plant in the U.S., LG Energy Solution backed out of plans to build a facility in Indiana, leaving the future of the project in that area uncertain.
However, GM recently confirmed a new joint venture with Samsung SDI to move forward with the fourth plant at a yet-undisclosed location. The Samsung alliance will result in Ultium batteries being produced with cylindrical battery cells in place of the pouch-style cells currently used. The pouch-style cells are a specialty of LG Energy Solution, while cylindrical calls are used by other EV automakers such as Tesla.
GM says 2023 through 2025 will be breakout years for its EV initiative. Analysts agree it stands a good chance of surpassing Ford’s electric vehicle sales but will face a more significant challenge in overtaking Tesla. However, The General first thoroughly developed its Ultium batteries, electric GM Ultium Drive motors, and its highly scalable BEV3 platform, giving it a springboard to rapidly increasing EV production.
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Comments
Pouch type cells are safer than cylindrical cells because the heat sink plate between cell groups prevent the sharpnel from a ruptured cell to perforated other groups. Cylindrical cells have their own casings as heat sinks, but a rupture will cascade to other cells. This is what causes Tesla cars to burn. If the new cylindrical cells are LFP type which is safer, then the fire risk is eliminated.
It’s interesting how there was very limited information regarding the training they gave the first responders. I was expecting to see a video actually demonstrating how to put out an EV fire. It looks like this was more theoretical than real live training. There are a lot of unknowns with battery technology, life expectancy, disposal, recycling, fires, toxic chemicals, hazards to the environment when mining the minerals to produce, etc. European countries are already banning EVs from traveling on ferries due to a recent fire that could not be extinguished and the ferry sunk. They are also recommending certain EVs not to park in your garage calling it a potential fire hazard. These EV mandates are going to have a negative impact on the auto industry, economy, and the environment due to poor strategic planning by the global elites and this administration. It’s not about saving the planet or the environment it’s all about power, control, and financial greed.
As far as GM’s new Ultium EVs are concerned, they are making so few of them (GM LIED when stating they’ve made tens of thousands of LYRIQS in that mine was made less than 2 weeks ago with a VIN in the very low 3,000s), that there is an intrinsic limitation to the number of fires possible. Not many Hummers either.
Due to the LYRIQ being the most difficult to drive vehicle I’ve ever driven (absolutely nothing is intuitive), this will be my last GM Purchase. The Stockbroker Dashboards kill the driving experience for me, and seemingly all GM EVs are going to this – a deal breaker for me.
KIA is making a TELEURIDE sized SUV/CUV for a reasonable price, if it has the big battery I want along with a reasonable 200 hp 2wd. I would doubt that KIA would make a difficult to drive vehicle.
I have a 2020 Telluride and it is awesome. We liked it so much I ordered a 2023 two months ago and I just got confirmation it will arrive in two weeks. The 2020 I ordered fully loaded with all options came in at $48K. The new one fully loaded with all options is $54K. They are giving me $41K on a trade. Did not have any issues with the SUV, very reasonably priced, it held its value better than expected and it is built in GA. If the new Telluride-sized SUV/CUV you mentioned is as good as the Telluride you will be very happy. It is nice to be able to order a new high-demand vehicle (all options) like the Telluride and you get it 3 months later. It reminds me of the good old days.
Doubt you even have a Lyriq, let alone driven one. It’s easily one of the best cars Cadillac has ever made and absolutely intuitive. The beautiful single pane of glass screen really helps with cabin cohesion, and classic Cadillac stylizing.
Yes, One would expect they would want this training and information available to all first responders and even the general public so why not show it?
Agreed. I was expecting real info I could use to train other service members, not expecting worthless marketing garbage..
Well in the interim, I have moderated my view A Little. But one thing is certain.. You are just another one of the Ignoramuses here, Ping Zero State, no offense!
The car has a very steep learning curve.
I don’t know enough about this to comment, so I won’t.
You could just say we wouldn’t need any of this if we just stuck to proven cordless technology that doesn’t need a $20,000 battery replacement every 100,000 miles.
Haha. When I read about 100% ice vehicles I see all kinds of complaints owners have about their engines and automatic transmissions.
I fully expect the battery in my Lyriq to be good for 400,000 miles. I’ve given the explanation earlier as to why.
Some babied engines will last 400,000 miles, but if I have to pay $15-20,000 for a new battery at that point there will be no complaints from me.