As GM appears to ship on its promise of EVs for everybody, the automaker is recruiting expertise from the very best. GM introduced Thursday that it has employed Kurt Kelty, former Tesla government and acknowledged battery professional, because it goals to launch low-cost EVs.
GM hires ex-Tesla battery professional to launch low-cost EVs
Kelty will function vice chairman of Batteries underneath President Mark Reuss within the newly created function.
Within the function, he will likely be in control of GM’s battery cell technique and a brand new end-to-end strategy. Kelty’s duties will embody researching, growing, and investing in new expertise and using uncooked supplies.
GM mentioned Kelty’s workforce will likely be accountable for a key piece of its electrification technique. He’ll make the most of GM’s battery growth assets to ship “worthwhile, lower-cost, higher-performing electrical automobiles” at scale.
With the brand new rent, GM will speed up and increase efforts to develop and manufacture next-gen battery cells to place them as an EV chief sooner or later.
Kelty mentioned, with over 30 years of battery tech expertise, “Becoming a member of GM creates an excellent greater alternative to assist the business make the swap and have a long-lasting influence on our planet.”
![Chevy-Blazer-EV-sales](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/12/Chevy-Blazer-EV-Costco-1.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1024)
Kelty most just lately served as vice chairman at Sila, a battery supplies startup growing lighter, greater power density lithium-ion batteries to advertise widespread EV adoption.
Earlier than that, he helped lead Tesla’s battery growth workforce for 11 years. Kelty was accountable for business negotiations with cell suppliers and early-stage battery cell builders.
![Chevy-Equinox-EV-production](https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2023/09/Equinox-EV-price-2.jpeg?quality=82&strip=all&w=1024)
GM mentioned he was a “key driver” in Tesla’s first Gigafactory. Kelty has labored with lithium-ion batteries since 1993, working for Panasonic to advance rechargeable battery tech for transportable units (the identical 12 months the Apple Newton MessagePad went on sale).
The automaker introduced it will spend $35 billion on EVs and autonomous tech by 2025. GM mentioned the rent will assist it speed up towards its imaginative and prescient of an all-electric future.
Electrek’s Take
GM’s new hiring comes after the automaker backtracked on its “all-in on EVs” technique to deal with plug-in hybrids.
Over the previous few months, GM has pushed again the manufacturing of key EVs just like the all-electric Equinox, Silverado RST, and GMC Sierra Denali.
GM is phasing out its hottest Chevy Bolt EV because it focuses on scaling the output of its Ultium-based fashions. GM CEO, Mary Barra mentioned the next-gen Bolt EV will provide an excellent higher driving, charging, and possession expertise.”
The brand new Bolt would be the first Ultium mannequin in North America to make use of LFP batteries to assist drive prices down. GM hopes its new rent can assist it ship low-cost, worthwhile EVs at scale.
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