What is a Ultium battery?

Geo-TH,In · Sep 23, 2021

General Motors reveals the Ultium electric motors that will power it into the future.

What makes the Ultium battery different? Does it use different metals? Is it prone to
fires? I can't find a lot of info on it.
Ultium

MarkB_MI · Sep 23, 2021

George, I think Ultium is the GM brand name for its family of EV components, both motors and batteries. It doesn't refer to any particular technology, other than the Ultium family is modular, and components are usable on a variety of vehicle platforms rather than being platform-specific. Sort of how 'Vortec' refers to a family of GM engines, or 'Turbohydramatic' to transmissions.

Of the three Ultium motors GM just announced, two are permanent magnet while the third is induction. Quite different technologies. I think all the Ultium batteries are lithium-ion, but I assume GM would stick with same name if they introduced a non-Li-ion battery.

The GM press release below from 2020 sort of explains what 'Ultium Drive' means.

Curiously, as I was googling, I discovered that Purina has already trademarked Ultium as a <a href=https://www.purinamills.com/horse-feed/products/detail/purina-ultium-competition-horse-formula>brand of horse feed</a>. No comment, Frau Blücher.
Purina Ultium

Geo-TH,In · Sep 23, 2021

New battery cells will also use a low-cobalt chemistry, GM said, addressing concerns over the material.

GM expects the electric cars spawned by Ultium to be profitable, owing to economies of scale and production efficiencies. The automaker will continue to partner with LG Chem on batteries and expects costs to drop below $100 per kWh in the next few years.

What is a Ultium battery?

Geo-TH,In

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MarkB_MI

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Geo-TH,In

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