Battery producer LG Power Resolution simply introduced that its Arizona subsidiary has signed a long-term provide settlement with US automaker Rivian for 4695 cylindrical batteries. The cells might be produced at LG Power Resolution Arizona’s new standalone US facility starting subsequent yr and can energy Rivian’s upcoming R2 BEVs.
LG Power Resolution (LGES) is a by-product entity of LG Chem specializing in battery growth and manufacturing. Within the 4 brief years because the entity was based, the Korean firm has established partnerships and provide agreements with OEMs worldwide and is at the moment one of many leaders in its respective market behind long-time frontrunner CATL.
When the Biden administration launched the Inflation Discount Act, which included tax incentives for BEVs and their batteries assembled on US soil, LGES was one the most well-liked battery producers OEMs reached out to for joint ventures to arrange localized cell manufacturing in North America.
Since then, we’ve seen facility plans introduced between LGES and automakers like Hyundai Motor Group, Stellantis, Honda, and Ford, which not too long ago determined to convey its operations stateside over from Europe. Toyota additionally has a provide settlement in place with LG Power Resolution.
In 2022, we coated the information that LG Power Resolution was investing $450 million to supply 4680 battery cells, a format pioneered by Tesla. The corporate has since developed taller, higher-capacity cells known as 4695.
At present, the corporate introduced a brand new deal for these 4695 cylindrical batteries, which might be produced in Arizona and delivered to Rivian for its R2 fashions.
Rivian R2 might be powered by LG Power Resolution batteries
LG Power Resolution shared particulars of its newest provide settlement this afternoon. The corporate has signed on to offer Rivian with its superior 4695 cylindrical batteries for over 5 years, delivering a complete vitality capability of 67 GWh throughout that point.
The “4695” nomenclature refers back to the dimensions of the battery cells, which have a diameter of 46mm and a peak of 95mm. LG Power Resolution defined that its 20 years of analysis and growth in cylindrical batteries have gone into its next-generation 4695 cells for Rivian.
The battery specialist states that its bigger cells will provide OEMs long-range and excessive security whereas delivering over six occasions the capability of the prevailing 2170 cylindrical cells fashionable in BEV battery modules in the present day. LG Power Resolution CEO David Kim spoke in regards to the firm’s 4695 batteries and its sturdy provide settlement with Rivian:
As a result of dynamic nature of the present EV market, an growing variety of international automakers are demonstrating a powerful choice for a various vary of battery kind elements. This huge-scale order from Rivian for 4695 batteries marks a key milestone for LG Power Resolution in increasing its shopper base throughout the cylindrical battery section.
At present, we additionally realized that the batteries for Rivian will ultimately be manufactured at its pending facility in Arizona throughout the first yr of manufacturing, then delivered to Rivian’s meeting plant in Regular, Illinois, the place they are going to be carried out in R2 fashions bought within the North American market.
Development of LGES’ Arizona facility is underway and anticipated to be accomplished and start full-scale manufacturing in lower than two years from now.
The Rivian R2 was unveiled this previous March to a lot fanfare, and nicely over 100,000 pre-orders have since been positioned. Will probably be assembled on the Regular, IL, facility and will ultimately transfer to the American Automaker’s second manufacturing plant, which stays beneath building in Georgia.
Throughout its reveal, Rivian shared that it expects the R2 BEV to achieve the market within the first half of 2026. If that timeline holds, it needs to be proper round when LG Power Resolution begins producing batteries for these Rivian fashions in Arizona.
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