Welcome to the Hyperdrive daily briefing, decoding the revolution reshaping the auto world, from EVs to self-driving cars and beyond.
News Briefs
Mary Barra on the Bolt and Battery Tech
I’ve been having some wonky conversations with battery experts this week trying to understand what may have caused the $1.8 billion recall of Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles, and what the debacle says about the auto world’s readiness to go electric.
General Motors, its battery supplier LG Energy Solution and LG Electronics are investigating what has led at least 10 Bolt vehicles to go up in flames. The companies are still getting to the bottom of the root cause.
GM is not alone confronting this issue. Tesla, Hyundai, Ford, BMW, Audi and China’s Nio all have either recalled cars or drawn scrutiny from regulators over battery fires.
Elon Musk recently compared the state of battery technology to Baskin Robbins ice cream parlors that famously offer 31 flavors — there are just so many different cell designs and chemistry combinations to choose from, and none has proven to be a clear winner.
Despite the unknowns, the auto industry finds itself in the midst of a frenzied, global ramp-up of EV production that’s forcing companies to make decisions now that they may have to adjust later. So, it’s inevitable we’re going to encounter some growing pains.
Mary Barra, GM’s chief executive officer, knows the implications of the Bolt recalls better than anyone. My colleagues at Bloomberg Television sat down with her on Thursday, and she addressed the matter directly. Barra spoke to the idea that EV battery-making is still a learning process, with automakers knowing the tech will evolve down the road.
Here’s an excerpt of Barra’s conversation with anchor David Westin that has been edited for length and clarity. You can watch the interview for yourself here.
You’ve had some difficulties recently with the Bolt. When do you think you’ll understand what went wrong, so you can fix it?
We already understand that when two very specific manufacturing defects happen in the same cell, that’s when there’s an issue. We’re working with LG to make sure that those issues are solved, and then we’ll be able to provide battery cell and module replacements for our customers.
I believe the lessons that we have learned through this experience are really going to benefit the entire industry and the importance of the manufacturing processes. And with our joint venture with LG, who is a valued partner, we’re going to be able to combine their expertise with our expertise, so I have a lot of confidence in our Ultium battery platform.
You mentioned that LG is a valued partner; as far as I can tell, it’s your only partner. Does the experience with the Bolt raise any questions in your mind about putting all your eggs in one basket?
We work with LG but we also have our internal work, we have one of the largest battery-development labs in the country, and we’re building a manufacturing lab as well.
We also have a partnership with SolidEnergy Systems, so we have multiple pathways with battery technology to make sure we’re going to have a leadership position. The flexibility that’s been designed into the Ultium platform means many different chemistries can be introduced. That’s where I think we’re really well-positioned as we go forward, to use the best battery technologies.
There’s always a build yourself-or-buy question when it comes to components. You’re talking about a middle ground, where you use joint ventures to have more control. Is that where you’re going?
There will be a variety of solutions. We decided long ago that we wanted to be responsible for the battery-cell manufacture and pack manufacture, so we’ve already done that.
We also have a family of motors we’re building internally, and then all of the software and control systems are being done internally as well. As it relates to all the different components that we need, we’ll look at a series of strategic arrangements, joint ventures or traditional supply agreements.
GM has a blend of people with experience in traditional vehicles, as well as EVs. Do you sometimes, deep in your heart, envy the people who just start with a blank sheet of paper?
Absolutely not, because I know how complex creating, designing, engineering, integrating and manufacturing a vehicle is.
We have the plants built; we just need to modify them to build electric vehicles. And we have a trained workforce that is very much wanting to be a part of our future. When people start to realize all the assets we bring to this equation, it's not a question of if we can do it, it's how fast can we do it?
Before You Go
Gustav Hasselskog, the founder and chief executive officer of Swedish startup Candela Speed Boat, isn’t shy about comparing his electric watercraft with Teslas. And why should he be? The new C-8 unveiled Thursday offers over-the-air updates, a 15.4-inch high-resolution touch screen and an app where you can plan trips and access all features of the boat, from switching on lights and the cooler to checking its charging status. Candela has developed all the software in-house. Tesla’s Model S “outsold all combustion-engine luxury sedans,” Hasselskog said. “We expect the C-8 to have a similar impact on the boating industry.”
— With assistance by David Westin
https://ift.tt/2WzkvL8
Auto
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "GM CEO Says Bolt Recall Offers Lessons for Entire Auto Industry - Bloomberg"
Post a Comment