GM claims wireless battery system speeds EV development, extends range

DETROIT—General Motors' upcoming electric vehicles will use a wireless battery-management system that helps get them to market faster and allows a common set of battery components to power a wide range of EVs.

The battery system, developed with Analog Devices Inc., can be updated over-the-air to incorporate new technology quickly, improves range by reducing weight and allows used-up batteries to be converted into clean power generators, GM said. It will be standard on all vehicles powered by GM's proprietary Ultium batteries, including the GMC Hummer pickup coming in 2021 and the Cadillac Lyriq crossover due out in 2022.

"Scalability and complexity reduction are a theme with our Ultium batteries—the wireless battery management system is the critical enabler of this amazing flexibility," Kent Helfrich, GM executive director of global electrification and battery systems, said in a statement. "The wireless system represents the epitome of Ultium's configurability and should help GM build profitable EVs at scale."

The wireless management system eliminates the need to develop specific communication systems or redesign wiring configurations for each new vehicle, GM said.

The system can run battery pack health checks in real time and help maintain long-term battery health. It reduces wiring within the batteries by up to 90 percent, GM said, which can extend charging range by making the vehicle lighter and freeing up space for additional batteries.

The wireless system will help scale Ultium batteries, jointly developed with LG Chem in Ohio, across GM's future lineup.

GM has said it plans to launch 20 EVs globally by 2023 and more later this decade. GM also will use Ultium batteries to co-develop at least two Honda EVs and to build Nikola Corp.'s Badger pickup.

The flexibility created by the wireless system will lead to a more robust manufacturing process and streamlined battery restructuring, GM said.

The new system also allows GM to more easily repurpose the batteries when their capacity becomes too low for optimal vehicle performance. At that point, GM said, the batteries can be used to create generators by combining multiple packs without having to overhaul the battery management system, as is the case when repurposing wired batteries.

Nikola partnership
GM recently disclosed that it would take an 11 percent stake in startup electric truck maker Nikola, under a partnership that calls for GM to engineer and assemble Nikola's first vehicle.

Under the agreement, which is expected to close this month, GM will build the Nikola Badger, an electric and fuel cell pickup planned for production in late 2022, using Ultium batteries.

"This strategic partnership with Nikola, an industry-leading disrupter, continues the broader deployment of General Motors' all-new Ultium battery and Hydrotec fuel cell systems," GM CEO Mary Barra said in a joint statement. "We are growing our presence in multiple high-volume EV segments while building scale to lower battery and fuel cell costs and increase profitability. In addition, applying General Motors' electrified technology solutions to the heavy-duty class of commercial vehicles is another important step in fulfilling our vision of a zero-emissions future."

GM will receive $2 billion worth of shares in Nikola and be able to nominate one director, the statement said.

The agreement will commercialize GM's fuel cell technology in high volumes and extends the use of its fuel cell system to the semitruck market.

Nikola will facilitate sales and marketing for the Badger and will retain the Nikola Badger brand. Nikola will unveil the Badger in December at the Nikola World 2020 event in Arizona.

"Nikola immediately gets decades of supplier and manufacturing knowledge, validated and tested production-ready EV propulsion, world-class engineering and investor confidence," Nikola founder and Executive Chairman Trevor Milton said in the statement. "Most importantly, General Motors has a vested interest to see Nikola succeed."

GM plans to include silicon anodes and lithium metal anodes to improve range, affordability and reduce usage of expensive metals.