Latest news with #GeneralMotors
Forbes
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
GM Supplying Redwood Materials With Batteries For Data Center, Grid Packs
Industrial battery units storing electricity in the desert. getty General Motors, which has poured billions of dollars into producing electric vehicle batteries at U.S. plants, is partnering with Redwood Materials to use some of its cells for stationary energy storage systems for the power grid as well as AI data centers. The Detroit-based automaker, which already supplies battery scrap materials to Redwood for recycling, plans to supply both new and used U.S.-made battery cells that Redwood will package as large stationary packs, the companies said. The move comes after Reno-based Redwood, founded by Tesla cofounder and current board member JB Straubel, last month created a new unit to supply energy storage packs called Redwood Energy. 'The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn't just expanding, it's becoming essential infrastructure,' said Kurt Kelty, GM's battery chief. 'Electricity demand is climbing and it's only going to accelerate.' Finding additional uses for battery cells beyond EVs can help GM maximize its investment in R&D and production of that technology as Trump Administration policies, distilled in the just-enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, darken the outlook for not only EV sales but large-scale wind and solar projects. Pursuing new applications for cleaner, less-polluting energy technology is exactly what many investors are encouraging companies to do. 'Someone said, 'climate tech has gone from green to khaki,' because it's not just about green tech anymore. It's all about domestic security and domestic supply chains,' Nicole LeBlanc, a partner at Toyota's Woven Capital venture fund, recently told Forbes . 'From an investment perspective, that mitigates some uncertainties around the climate element in terms of the scaling of these technologies. Because now they have a second market that is accelerating and has more money in it.' GM is one of the fastest-growing sellers of electric vehicles in the U.S., posting a 104% gain in the first half owing to new models like the battery-powered Chevrolet Equinox, second only to Tesla in total volume. That growth pace isn't expected to continue later in the year. 'With government-backed incentives set to end in September and economic pressures mounting, the second half of the year will be a critical test of EV demand,' said Cox Automotive analyst Stephanie Valdez Streaty. 'Q3 will likely be a record, followed by a collapse in Q4, as the electric vehicle market adjusts to its new reality.' A modular battery microgrid powers Redwood Materials' Nevada campus. Redwood Materials Data Centers Data centers are a particularly fast-growing source of electricity consumption, likely to use 12% of U.S. power generation by 2028, according to the Energy Department. In June, Redwood said it supplied a 63 megawatt-hour battery microgrid for use by Crusoe, an AI infrastructure company, that's operating at its Nevada headquarters. That installation includes used GM batteries. GM already makes lithium-ion batteries for its electric models and this week announced plans to also make lower-cost lithium-iron phosphate cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant. The company also recently announced plans to begin producing lithium-manganese-rich cells, a new cell chemistry expected to shave at least $6,000 off the cost of electric truck battery packs. GM is upgrading its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant to make lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells. General Motors GM and Redwood declined to provide financial details of the partnership, but will share more information later this year, they said in a statement. Redwood, which Straubel cofounded in 2019, recycles used lithium-ion cells to recover valuable raw materials and also makes components for new batteries. The closely held company estimates it's processing more than 20 gigawatt-hours of used battery cells–equivalent to 250,000 EVS–annually. Straubel and Kelty worked together at Tesla, building up the EV company's battery operations from its earliest days until 2017, when Kelty departed. Straubel, formerly Tesla's CTO, left the company in 2019 to focus on Redwood. More From Forbes Forbes GM's New Battery Will Cut The Cost Of Its Electric Trucks By Over $6,000 By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials Gears Up To Recycle First Big Wave Of Used EV Batteries By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials' New Specialty: Recycling EV Batteries Damaged By Fire And Hurricanes By Alan Ohnsman
Business Insider
5 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
AI adoption is growing in the automotive industry. General Motors is all in.
At General Motors ' Detroit-based electric vehicle assembly plant, Factory Zero, artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing an increasingly significant role. AI-based vision systems can swiftly identify maintenance issues, such as battery leaks, damaged metal components, and patchy paintwork. Marketing teams use AI tools to analyze consumer behavior and adapt their market research and promotional efforts. As General Motors looks to retain its crown as America's biggest car manufacturer amid increased competition from rivals, corporate leaders see AI as key to its success. Meeting customers where they are Jon Francis, chief data and analytics officer at GM, said artificial intelligence is contributing to change across the company. For one thing, he said, AI is helping GM reach consumers at the "right moment" on their car-buying journeys, enabling the carmaker to adjust production lines in "real time" to meet demand. Using data points like customer interactions and sales and manufacturing metrics, GM's AI solutions can provide insights on how to adjust production to ensure vehicles offer the features customers want most. Francis said examples include "seamless connectivity," safety features in tune with drivers' personal needs and those of their passengers, as well as traditional and electric engines. The AI solutions can also ensure anomalies are spotted and fixed before customers receive their new cars. Francis said the technology is also providing new GM customers with a more enjoyable driving experience. For example, with the help of AI and machine learning, GM is working with organizations like Pilot and EVgo to find the most optimal locations for EV charging stations, enabling GM drivers to power up more easily. Decisions are made by algorithm-based analyses of traffic flow and nearby EV chargers, in addition to the knowledge of human experts. A look at the automotive landscape GM's leaders aren't the only ones turning to AI to drive growth. The tech is making waves across the automotive sector more broadly. Research from Global Market Insights shows that AI automotive technology is a $4.8 billion industry and could reach $186.4 billion over the next decade. As evidenced by General Motors, AI is improving efficiencies on automotive production lines and in maintenance warehouses. But this technology is also delivering benefits for the end user by overhauling the driving experience. Wyatt Mayham, cofounder and CEO of IT consultancy Northwest AI Consulting, said that by embracing AI technologies, automotive companies may be able to design and sell "enhanced driver assistance systems" with features such as better automatic emergency braking and lane-keeping assistance. Tariq Munir, an AI transformation advisor, also envisages a bright future for AI automotive technologies. In particular, he expects to see automakers leverage "smart, self-optimizing systems" that will "enable production optimization and supply chain planning with near-perfect accuracy." He said automakers may be able to reduce vehicle-testing costs by performing tests virtually by combining AI with immersive technologies like augmented and virtual reality. "This is the smart factory revolution in the making," he said, "which will enable a faster, cheaper, and more sustainable automotive industry." Early obstacles Despite some success so far, GM's AI and ML transformation journey could face challenges. One was ensuring its AI solutions could deliver long-term, tangible benefits for all customers, which requires ample data. Therefore, Francis said, he and his team spent significant time implementing a robust IT infrastructure to collect, process, and analyze large datasets. This digital environment also had to be scalable from the beginning to facilitate the rapid expansion of AI adoption across GM's various departments, so Francis and his team built a "scaled compute environment." This is a type of IT infrastructure that features self-adjusting compute resources, like processing power and storage, to cater to organizational and employee needs as they change over time. Resistance to change is another common pitfall of AI adoption within companies. Some workers are understandably concerned that AI could replace them, and using this technology can be overwhelming for those new to it. With these concerns in mind, Francis said it's essential for business leaders to take time to understand employees' concerns about AI and provide adequate support and reassurance so that they get the most out of the tech. According to Francis, GM believes AI should augment, not replace, workers. "At GM, we view AI as a tool to enhance job functions, allowing our highly skilled workforce to focus on tasks that humans are uniquely qualified to do, and machines simply cannot perform. Once people see the powerful benefits of using AI, resistance drops rapidly," Francis added. Customized tools could be coming soon Challenges aside, Francis and other industry leaders remain optimistic about the future of the automotive industry and the role of AI. For Francis, customers will increasingly demand vehicles tailored to their specific needs and packed with advanced safety and connectivity features. "AI and data analytics are helping us deliver exactly that across our entire lineup, whether someone is looking for a traditional engine or going electric," he said."Through AI solutions, we're able to create better experiences for every type of customer and every price point." This sentiment is echoed by Royston Jones, the global head of automotive at computational intelligence firm Altair, who said customers want "more personalized, energy-efficient, and safer" vehicles. These are things he thinks AI will continue to enable in the years ahead in the automotive industry. "In the long run," he told Business Insider, "AI will push the industry toward mass customization, shorter development cycles, and sustainable innovation that aligns with shifting customer values and regulatory demands."
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
GM's Ultium Cells battery plant in Tennessee to add production of low-cost LFP cells
This story was originally published on Automotive Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Automotive Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Ultium Cells, the electric vehicle battery joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, is upgrading its battery cell manufacturing facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee, to add production of lower-cost lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells, the company announced in a July 14 press release. The plans are part of a $2.3 billion investment in the plant that was announced in 2021 to produce nickel cobalt manganese aluminum (NCMA) pouch cells and LFP cells at the same facility. The conversion of existing production lines will begin later this year, with commercial production of LFP cells expected to begin in late 2027. 'The upgrade reflects the continued strength of our partnership with General Motors and our shared commitment to advancing EV battery innovation,' said Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution, in the release. Dive Insight: Introducing low-cost LFP battery chemistry into its growing lineup can help GM improve margins on its EVs, as well as reduce their costs for buyers. The higher costs of EVs using existing battery chemistries may deter shoppers and impact adoption in the U.S. now that the Federal EV tax credit of up to $7,500 is slated to end on Sept. 30. The elimination of the credit is included in the 'One Big Beautiful Bill,' which was signed into law on July 4. GM currently uses more expensive nickel manganese cobalt aluminum oxide (NMCA) batteries for its EVs. The cost-effectiveness of LFP batteries compared to NCMA or nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) types is due to the use of less expensive raw materials, including cobalt and nickel. Instead, LFP batteries use a higher amount of cheap and abundant iron and phosphate. LFP batteries contain virtually no cobalt and perform better than other cell chemistries in high temperatures, making them more resistant to cell degradation and fire for greater safety. 'At GM, we're innovating battery technology to deliver the best mix of range, performance, and affordability to our EV customers,' said Kurt Kelty, VP of batteries, propulsion, and sustainability at GM, in the release. 'This upgrade at Spring Hill will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LFP cell technologies in the U.S., complementing our high-nickel and future lithium manganese rich solutions and further diversifying our growing EV portfolio." LFP batteries also have a significantly longer cycle life and can endure more charge-discharge cycles before degrading, translating into a longer service life. In addition, LPF batteries can be fully charged to 100% without accelerating cell degradation compared to NMC batteries. This is among the reasons why many OEMs recommend charging EVs to just 80% to extend battery service life. However, the tradeoff is that drivers do not receive the vehicle's full EPA-estimated range. One of the drawbacks of LFP batteries however, is their lower energy density compared to NMC and NCA chemistries, according to Quantumscape. An automaker must use more LFP cells to achieve EV range targets that buyers now expect. Although the use of additional cells and a larger battery pack may improve range, it also increases vehicle weight and can potentially reduce an EVs interior space. In addition to Ultium Cells adding LFP cell production in Tennessee, GM and LG Energy announced in May the development of an improved lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cell design for the automaker's future electric vehicles. The LMR battery chemistry uses a higher percentage of lower-cost manganese to replace cobalt, while still delivering high energy density, according to GM. GM aims to be the first major automaker to use LMR batteries, and the Ultium Cells joint venture plans to start commercial production of the new cells by 2028 for GM's full-size electric trucks and SUVs. 'Our expertise in these three battery chemistries will enable us to scale production of lower-cost LMR and LFP cell technologies so we can produce both full-size electric pickups and affordable EVs like the Chevrolet Bolt,' said GM president Mark Reuss in a blog post. Ultium Cells broke ground on the Tennessee EV battery plant in 2021 and the first shipments of batteries to GM were in March 2024. Recommended Reading GM, LG Energy target commercializing manganese-rich batteries for EVs
Business Insider
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Insider
GM has a surprising new role powering the AI boom
Why would a car company be involved in supplying energy for the AI revolution? This is exactly what's happening with General Motors, one of the largest carmakers in the US. In a move that blurs the lines between automaking and energy infrastructure, GM is entering the power business through a new agreement with Redwood Materials, a startup run by Tesla cofounder JB Straubel. When GM electric vehicle batteries come to the end of their useful lives in cars, the company gives them a second life through a recycling deal with Redwood. The agreement includes new US-manufactured batteries from GM and second-life battery packs from GM electric vehicles. These batteries will supply energy to AI data centers, GM and Redwood announced on Wednesday. "The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn't just expanding; it's becoming essential infrastructure," said Kurt Kelty, vice president of battery, propulsion, and sustainability at GM. "Electricity demand is climbing, and it's only going to accelerate. To meet that challenge, the US needs energy storage solutions that can be deployed quickly, economically, and made right here at home. GM batteries can play an integral role." The joint effort, announced just weeks after Redwood launched its new energy storage arm, Redwood Energy, is already bearing fruit. GM EV batteries are helping power a new Redwood microgrid in Nevada, the largest second-life battery installation in the world, according to the startup. That system supports Crusoe, a company building AI data centers that demand massive, always-on power. As AI data centers push electricity demand to new highs, the need for grid-scale energy storage has become urgent. What's surprising is how auto batteries, originally designed to move cars, are now being tapped to stabilize the electric grid and enable the next wave of computing. This collaboration also underscores a larger industrial trend: turning retired assets into strategic resources as global supply chains become stressed by geopolitical tensions and the threat of tariffs. "Both GM's second-life EV batteries and new batteries can be deployed in Redwood's energy storage systems, delivering fast, flexible power solutions and strengthening America's energy and manufacturing independence," Straubel said in a statement. More details are expected later this year, though one thing is already clear: the road from EVs to AI runs through power storage, and GM wants to be in the driver's seat.
Forbes
6 hours ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
GM Supplying Redwood Materials With Batteries For Data Center, Energy Grid Packs
A modular battery microgrid powers Redwood Materials' Nevada campus. Redwood Materials General Motors, which has poured billions of dollars into producing electric vehicle batteries at U.S. plants, is partnering with Redwood Materials to use some of its cells for stationary energy storage systems for the power grid as well as AI data centers. The Detroit-based automaker, which already supplies battery scrap materials to Redwood for recycling, plans to supply both new and used U.S.-made battery cells that Redwood will package as large stationary packs, the companies said. The move comes after Reno-based Redwood, founded by Tesla cofounder and current board member JB Straubel, last month created a new unit to supply energy storage packs called Redwood Energy. 'The market for grid-scale batteries and backup power isn't just expanding, it's becoming essential infrastructure,' said Kurt Kelty, GM's battery chief. 'Electricity demand is climbing and it's only going to accelerate.' Finding additional uses for battery cells beyond EVs can help GM maximize its investment in R&D and production of that technology as Trump Administration policies, distilled in the just-enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act, darken the outlook for not only EV sales but large-scale wind and solar projects. Pursuing new applications for cleaner, less-polluting energy technology is exactly what many investors are encouraging companies to do. 'Someone said, 'climate tech has gone from green to khaki,' because it's not just about green tech anymore. It's all about domestic security and domestic supply chains,' Nicole LeBlanc, a partner at Toyota's Woven Capital venture fund, recently told Forbes . 'From an investment perspective, that mitigates some uncertainties around the climate element in terms of the scaling of these technologies. Because now they have a second market that is accelerating and has more money in it.' Data centers are a particularly fast-growing source of electricity consumption, likely to use 12% of U.S. power generation by 2028, according to the Energy Department. In June, Redwood said it supplied a 63 megawatt-hour battery microgrid for use by Crusoe, an AI infrastructure company, that's operating at its Nevada headquarters. That installation includes used GM batteries. GM already makes lithium-ion batteries for its electric models and this week announced plans to also make lower-cost lithium-iron phosphate cells at its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant. The company also recently announced plans to begin producing lithium-manganese-rich cells, a new cell chemistry expected to shave at least $6,000 off the cost of electric truck battery packs. GM is upgrading its Spring Hill, Tennessee, plant to make lithium-iron-phosphate battery cells. General Motors GM and Redwood declined to provide financial details of the partnership, but will share more information later this year, they said in a statement. Redwood, which Straubel cofounded in 2019, recycles used lithium-ion cells to recover valuable raw materials and also makes components for new batteries. The closely held company estimates it's processing more than 20 gigawatt-hours of used battery cells–equivalent to 250,000 EVS–annually. Straubel and Kelty worked together at Tesla, building up the EV company's battery operations from its earliest days until 2017, when Kelty departed. Straubel, formerly Tesla's CTO, left the company in 2019 to focus on Redwood. More From Forbes Forbes GM's New Battery Will Cut The Cost Of Its Electric Trucks By Over $6,000 By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials Gears Up To Recycle First Big Wave Of Used EV Batteries By Alan Ohnsman Forbes Redwood Materials' New Specialty: Recycling EV Batteries Damaged By Fire And Hurricanes By Alan Ohnsman
