As General Motors strives to deliver on its pledge of making electric vehicles accessible to all, the company is actively seeking out top talent. General Motors announced on Thursday that it has hired Kurt Kelty, a former Tesla executive and renowned battery expert, as the company seeks to enter the market with affordable electric vehicles.
General Motors taps former Tesla battery expert to spearhead affordable electric vehicle initiative.
Kelty will serve as vice chairman of Batteries under President Mark Reuss in his new role.
Within the role, he will be responsible for overseeing General Motors’ (GM’s) battery cell technology and developing a novel end-to-end approach. Kelty’s responsibilities will encompass conducting research, cultivating innovative technologies, and leveraging raw materials to drive growth and investment.
General Motors has announced that Kelty’s team will be responsible for overseeing the implementation of a crucial component in its electrification strategy. He will leverage General Motors’ enhanced battery technology and resources to manufacture a fleet of “valuable, cost-effective, high-performance electric vehicles” on a large scale.
General Motors is poised to accelerate its efforts to develop and manufacture next-generation battery cells, positioning itself to become a leader in electric vehicle manufacturing in the near future?
With three decades of battery technology experience under his belt, Kelty remarked, “Joining forces with General Motors presents a substantially more appealing opportunity for us to drive meaningful change and create a lasting impact on the environment.”
Most recently, Kelty held the position of Vice Chairman at Sila, a pioneering startup specializing in the development of lithium-ion batteries with enhanced energy density and reduced weight, aimed at accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.
Prior to that, he spearheaded Tesla’s battery development team for a decade and a half, playing a pivotal role in advancing the company’s energy storage capabilities. As the lead negotiator for industrial agreements with cell suppliers and emerging battery cell manufacturers, Kelty was responsible for facilitating successful partnerships.
According to Elon Musk, he played a pivotal role as the driving force behind Tesla’s initial Gigafactory project. Since 1993, Kelty has dedicated his efforts to developing lithium-ion batteries, collaborating with Panasonic to drive innovation in portable power solutions for transportation devices. This endeavour began the same year that the Apple Newton MessagePad hit the market.
The automotive giant plans to invest a substantial $35 billion in electric vehicles (EVs) and autonomous technology by 2025. General Motors stated that the rent will help accelerate its vision for an all-electric future.
Electrek’s Take
General Motors’ recent hiring spurt follows a sudden about-face from its initial strategy of committing fully to electric vehicles (EVs), as the company now prioritizes the development of plug-in hybrids instead.
In recent months, General Motors has accelerated production of its flagship electric vehicles, including the all-electric Chevrolet Equinox, Silverado RST, and GMC Sierra Denali.
General Motors is discontinuing its most popular Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle model as it shifts focus to ramping up production of its Ultium battery-powered variants. General Motors’ CEO Mary Barra announced that the upcoming next-gen Bolt EV will deliver significantly enhanced driving, charging, and ownership experiences.
The all-new Bolt will pioneer the use of lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries in North America, marking a significant step towards making sustainable mobility more accessible and affordable with lower production costs. General Motors aims to revolutionize the electric vehicle market by offering affordable and value-packed options in large quantities.
