General Motors Co. in Detroit has hired Kurt Kelty, a battery expert and former Tesla executive, to be vice president of batteries for the company. He will report to Mark Reuss, president of GM.
The move is part of GM’s stated goal of moving toward an all-electric future by investing in the infrastructure and attracting world-class talent, says Reuss. In this newly created role, Kelty will be charged with GM’s battery cell strategy and a new end-to-end approach.
This will include the use of raw materials, research, development, investing in new technology, commercialization of cells and packs, and end of life opportunities.
His team will be responsible for bringing together the company’s current battery development resources with industry expertise. The goal is to deliver profitable, lower cost more quickly, higher performing electric vehicles to customers at scale.
“The foundation that GM has established coupled with Kurt’s exceptional battery expertise in leading battery chemistry development, establishing partnerships, building out supply chains, and partnering closely with teams that have developed leading battery systems will help us achieve our electrification goals and position GM as a leader in EV technology,” says Reuss.
Kelty’s appointment and focus on battery cell technology should help GM identify and prototype the next generation of EV technology and manufacture cells at scale.
“For more than 30 years, I’ve been focused on helping develop and commercialize battery technologies that will aid in the transition to electric transportation,” says Kelty. “Joining GM creates an even bigger opportunity to help the industry make the switch and have a lasting impact on our planet.”
Most recently, Kelty was a vice president at battery company Sila in California, where he was responsible for sales, business development, battery cell manufacturing partnerships, and battery engineering involved in the adoption of Sila’s silicon anode material in EVs requiring high energy density and fast charge.
Prior to Sila, Kelty led the Tesla battery development team for 11 years. He was responsible for the technical exchanges and commercial negotiations with battery cell suppliers and early-stage battery cell developers.
He also was involved in the creation of Tesla’s first lithium-ion battery and EV component gigafactory. He began his work in lithium-ion batteries in 1993, working for Panasonic, where he created alliances and joint development programs to advance lithium-ion rechargeable batteries for portable applications.
