Samsung SDI to build another battery pack line in Michigan 

Samsung SDI was preparing to build a second electric vehicle battery pack factory line at its facility in Michigan, TheElec has learned.

Its existing first factory line was operating at 100% capacity thanks to increased sales of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles made by Stellantis, sources said.

This first factory line is one hour away from Detroit and was bought from Magna Steyr in 2015.

Samsung SDI spend US$62.7 million on it in 2018 to make it a battery pack line.

The company is expected to spend around half that amount for the second line as it will use the existing infrastructure of the facility.

Cells are grouped into modules and then packs. Samsung SDI imports the modules it made from Goed, Hungary and makes them into packs in Michigan for its US customers.

Modules are placed in a housing and connected with each other with bus bars. Gaps in between are filled and the pack is connected to the battery management system.

Samsung SDI has a joint venture with customer Stellantis that is aiming to manufacture batteries with a capacity of 23GWh by 2025.