Chinese startup might soon make EVs with cell-to-chassis tech

CATL cell to pack battery tech sketchA Chinese startup plans to ditch battery packs entirely and integrate cells directly with an EV's chassis. With this goal in mind, Neta Auto on Wednesday announced a cooperative agreement with battery supplier CATL to use the latter's cell-to-chassis tech, branded as Integrated Intelligent Chassis (CIIC). In a press release, Neta said it would be...

DOE: In 2022 money, EV battery costs have kept falling

Mercedes-Benz Alabama battery factoryMany analyses have shown that EV battery costs stopped decreasing in 2022, putting off affordability goals. But the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently issued a reality check. Based on 2022-constant dollars, battery costs actually continued falling last year at the pack level, because of accelerated inflation, according to DOE estimates. The...

BMW aims to build solid-state EV batteries under license

2023 BMW i7 xDrive60BMW has licensed solid-state battery cell designs and manufacturing processes from Colorado-based Solid Power, taking the partnership between the two companies up a notch. The automaker, which began partnering with Solid Power in 2017, will install copies of the firm's solid-state cell pilot production lines at its facilities in Germany, and Solid...

$2.5B DOE loan backs GM’s Ultium EV plan

Possible electric Chevrolet Camaro in GM Ultium teaser videoThe U.S. Department of Energy confirmed Monday morning a $2.5 billion federal loan to Ultium Cells LLC, for financing the construction of plants to supply many millions of future GM electric vehicles. The loan will fund the construction of joint-venture GM and LG Energy Solution battery plants in Ohio, Tennessee, and Michigan, and the confirmation...

Tech update may boost range of future Hyundai and Kia EVs

2023 Hyundai Ioniq 5Hyundai and Kia EVs may soon get new silicon-carbide power modules aimed at boosting range. Semiconductor firm STMicroelectronics (ST) said last week in a press release that it has been chosen by Hyundai to supply its silicon-carbide power modules for EVs based on the automaker's E-GMP platform, which underpins the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and...

EV battery cost soared in 2022, hampering EV affordability

Mercedes-Benz Alabama battery factoryEV battery costs have soared in 2022 due to rising raw material and battery component prices, according to a Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF) report. The volume-weighted average for lithium-ion battery pack prices reached $151/kwh this year, a 7% increase over 2021, according to the report. It marks the first time average pack prices have...

Hyundai, battery supplier SK ally to meet US EV sourcing rules

Hyundai N Vision 74 ConceptHyundai and battery supplier SK On are partnering to meet the new battery sourcing requirements of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The IRA continues the $7,500 federal EV tax credit, but to qualify for the full amount, it stipulates that EVs and their battery packs must be assembled in North America, and certain minerals used in batteries must...