GM, LG to make lower-cost EV battery cells in Tennessee
GM, LG to make lower-cost EV battery cells in Tennessee By Kalea Hall
DETROIT, Sept 29 (Reuters) - General Motors GM.N and battery partner LG Energy will upgrade their Tennessee plant to make lower-cost battery cells, the companies said Tuesday.
The Ultium Cells joint-venture plant will be upgraded beginning later this year to manufacture lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric vehicles. Construction is expected to be completed in 2028, though the companies did not disclose when the cell production will begin.
GM has previously said its goal was to start commercial production of LMR cells for future EVs at a U.S. facility in 2028.
The LMR cells are expected to have the potential to deliver 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells, another lower-cost battery chemistry that many automakers have gravitated to.
The expansion at the Tennessee plant is projected to create 500 new jobs.
The Tennessee plant currently makes LFP battery cells for energy storage systems.
GM’s battery leader has said the automaker may ditch a plan for LFP cells to focus on LMR instead.
(Reporting by Kalea Hall)
((kalea.hall@thomsonreuters.com))
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