There’s big news in the electric vehicle (EV) world. General Motors (GM), le géant de l'automobile, a révélé mercredi sa dernière initiative stratégique : un investissement considérable de $60 millions d'euros dans le secteur de l'automobile. Mitra Chem, une jeune entreprise de la Silicon Valley.

What’s the deal with Mitra Chem? This two-year-old company from Mountain View, California, has a nifty trick up its sleeve.

They harness the power of artificial intelligence to fast-track the creation of materials for lithium-ion batteries. But that’s not all. They’re helping GM explore more affordable and sustainable battery options, like the advanced iron-based cathode materials, specifically lithium manganese iron phosphate (LMFP).

This material might just find its way into GM’s future Ultium batteries, slated for post-2025.

Pourquoi cela change-t-il la donne ? Actuellement, de nombreuses batteries de VE reposent sur un mélange appelé nickel-cobalt-manganèse (NCM). Mais des alternatives comme le phosphate de fer lithié (LFP) et le LMFP offrent une approche plus écologique et plus économique.

However, a small catch exists: they usually pack less energy. Although LFP batteries originated in the U.S., it’s now Chinese firms like BYD and CATL that lead the global market.

“Is a strategic investment that will further help reinforce GM’s efforts in EV batteries (and) accelerate our work on affordable battery chemistries like LMFP,” proclamé Gil Golan, GM’s tech-savvy vice president.

M. Golan a également cité la loi américaine sur la réduction de l'inflation comme un facteur clé, soulignant son rôle dans la promotion d'une chaîne d'approvisionnement centrée sur les États-Unis pour les batteries LFP.

Fun fact: GM isn’t a newcomer to the LFP scene. They’ve already got these batteries powering their EVs in China.

Their current Ultium batteries, on the other hand, lean on a mix that offers longer driving ranges but comes with a heftier price tag. Collaboration is key, as GM’s battery ventures span across multiple plants, partnering with big names like LG Chem and Samsung SDI.

Un autre point mérite d'être souligné : les composants des produits LFP et LMFP sont non seulement plus abondants, mais aussi moins sujets aux fluctuations de prix, ce qui leur confère un avantage, comme le soulignent les experts en matière de piles.

At the core of Mitra Chem are three trailblazers: Vivas Kumar, the CEO; Will Chueh, the scientific brains; and Chirranjeevi Gopal, the product guru. With GM’s backing, there’s no doubt this partnership aims to make the future of EVs brighter and more accessible.

Avec l'aimable autorisation de Mitra Chem.