Today’s announcement that GM and Samsung SDI will open a $3 billion battery production plant in 2026 could eventually pay dividends for Corvette and Camaro enthusiasts.
The two companies announced that their joint venture will produce “high-performing, nickel-rich prismatic and cylindrical batteries that will be exclusively supplied for GM’s upcoming electric vehicles.”
That probably sounds like gibberish to most people, but what it means is actually significant news for sports car fans in the United States.
Already under development at three other plants in conjunction with Ultium Cells LLC are very large-format pouch cells. The new cylindrical batteries to be produced along with Samsung could be easier to integrate into electric versions of lower-profile cars like the Corvette and Camaro (slated to stop production in 2024 though the company says the name will return at some point in the future).
Chevy has already confirmed an electric Corvette will eventually be produced, so the new batteries would be a likely candidate for use in that vehicle, as well as perhaps a future variant of the Camaro if approved.
GM and Samsung say the new plant will begin operations in 2026, though the location has not been chosen. It will have an annual production capacity of 30 GWh.
The announcement came today as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, the first visit to the U.S. by a South Korean leader in 12 years. Accompanying the foreign leader are more than 100 executives from South Korea’s largest corporations, including Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Jay Y. Lee and Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Euisun Chung.
“The cells we build together will help us scale our EV capacity in North America well beyond 1 million units annually,” GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra said. “GM’s supply chain strategy for EVs is focused on scalability, resiliency, sustainability, and cost-competitiveness. Our new relationship with Samsung SDI will help us achieve all these objectives.”
Doug Parks, GM executive vice president, Global Product Development, Purchasing and Supply Chain, says the company “will continue to scale production and optimize the chemistry of our pouch cells for performance, range and cost using new approaches pioneered at GM’s Wallace Battery Center and by our technology partners.”
Parks added that the introduction of new cell form factors will allow GM to expand into even more segments more quickly and integrate cells directly into battery packs to reduce weight, complexity and costs. “With multiple strong cell partners,” he says, “we can scale our EV business faster than we could going it alone.”
Source:
General Motors via greencarreports.com
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Michelin Sport Cup and Super Sport tires already have a short tread life in normal Corvettes. Think of how much less it will be with these lead sleds. No driving on many race tracks and parking 30 feet away from any other vehicle. Parking garages are starting to ban EVs and wait until you get your homeowners insurance policy. What’s not to like in Biden’s clown world.
Really Rob C you want to go there? May I remind you the biggest EV manufacturer is run by a far right conspiracy monger? I will say my concern is with Samsung, a predatory company if there ever was one, and with a reputation for battery fires in its devices.
Is the industry truly going down the right road here?
Ford reported a $2 billion loss on their electric cars and is projecting a $3 billion loss for 2023!
There are so many issues with electric cars that no one wants to talk about.
Where will the electricity come from? Spontaneous fires that are hard to put out. Crashworthiness of the overall structure when batteries are crunched. And batteries that when they get into a flood or go into deep water, quickly corrode and catch fire. And these LG batteries are being made in South Korea, a place that Rocket Man would love to take over.
I guess “we’ll see” because the industry is going FULL CHARGE ahead.
Just pray your EV Corvette doesn’t catch fire inside your garage that’s built into your house! It has already happened to Tesla cars.
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