GM building giant battery development lab in Detroit suburb

[Auggie]

General Motors says it's building a huge new electric vehicle battery lab in Michigan where scientists will work on chemistry to cut costs 60% over current vehicles and allow people to travel 500 to 600 miles (800 to 965 kilometers) per charge.

SNIP

Executives say the lab will be operational by mid-to-late next year and will house hundreds of engineers and others who will work on battery innovations and how to manufacture them.

SNIP

The automaker is working on several new battery chemistries, including solid state, which have solid conducting material instead of the liquid electrolyte found in most current lithium-ion batteries. Solid state batteries can store more energy, expanding range or allowing for smaller batteries.

The Detroit automaker plans to spend $35 billion on electric and autonomous vehicles from 2020 to 2025. It plans to roll out 30 new electric vehicles worldwide by 2025 and has a goal of selling only electric passenger vehicles by 2035.

Full story: https://www.newsobserver.com/news/business/article254767052.html

[Klaralven]

1. Expanding the GM Tech Center in Warren

[Johnny2X2X]

2. It's an exciting time for the industry

The technology is going to evolve more in the next 10 years than it has in the previous 50. Batteries are going to be cheaper, more powerful, and hold more charge than we thought possible.

By 2030, owning an EV will be a no brainer and the smartest and most desirable option for most car buyers. Faster, cheaper, safer, and more reliable.

[abqtommy]

3. Maybe this lab can come up with a battery that doesn't spontaneously combust!

That'd be a plus!

[Auggie]

4. Well, it took a while to figure out flying machines too.

[lagomorph777]

5. There are multiple options for that. LiFePO is one. Solid State is another.

I think the current generation of lithium batteries will be obsolete in about 3 years.