General Motors (GM) is injecting $60 million into Mitra Chem, a Silicon Valley startup, to accelerate the development of affordable electric vehicle (EV) batteries. Mitra Chem employs AI to expedite lithium-ion battery material creation, cutting lab-to-production time by over 90%. This will aid GM's EV battery ambitions and foster a US-focused battery supply chain, according to Gil Golan, GM's VP of Technology Acceleration.

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Mitra Chem's AI-driven platform speeds up cathode design testing. GM's funding will help scale their operations, focusing on advanced iron-based cathode active materials compatible with GM's Ultium batteries. This collaboration aligns with the shift towards more cost-effective lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries used by companies like Ford and Tesla. The investment also taps into tax incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act, boosting US-made battery materials demand. This partnership could introduce new batteries into GM vehicles by 2030.

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