The U.S. has the potential to lead the world in electric vehicle (EV) battery development, driven by a strong local customer base and supportive government policies, according to Kurt Kelty, General Motors’ vice president of batteries.
Speaking at The Battery Show in Detroit, Kelty highlighted that while China remains the global leader in EV battery production, largely due to 15 years of government subsidies and control of key materials, the U.S. is now positioned to challenge that dominance. “Itâs a simple and pragmatic reality that the development of any new technology benefits from proximity to customers,â Kelty said. âWe now have the customers here in the States, and we have public policies that are supportive of manufacturing cells here.â
GM plans to expand its U.S. battery portfolio to include lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, a chemistry that Chinese manufacturers have successfully leveraged to reduce costs. Kelty expressed confidence that once local expertise and manufacturing capabilities are established, the U.S. could drive down LFP battery costs in a manner similar to the gains seen in Asia.
China currently controls much of the world’s refining capacity for essential battery materials like cobalt, nickel sulfate, graphite, and lithium hydroxide. However, with the right investments, Kelty believes the U.S. can close the gap in EV battery production and achieve cost competitiveness.
Source: Auto News