LG Chem to build electric-car battery plant in U.S.

By Nam Kwang-sik
SEOUL, June 4 (Yonhap) -- LG Chem Ltd., South Korea's leading chemical producer,
said Thursday it plans to build a plant in the United States to supply
electric-car batteries to U.S. automaker General Motors Corp.

Last January, LG Chem signed a deal with GM to provide lithium-ion polymer
batteries for the automaker's plug-in electric car Chevrolet Volt from Nov. 1,
2010 until the end of 2015.
LG Chem, however, said details on the construction of the U.S. plant have yet to
be decided.
The Volt uses an electric motor for propulsion and is being designed to run 40
miles on a single battery charge. Beyond that range, the car uses a gasoline
engine that drives a generator to produce electric power.
LG Chem will also provide the batteries to South Korea's leading automaker
Hyundai Motor Co. and its affiliate Kia Motors Corp., which plan to begin
production of hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) in the second half of this year.
HEVs are vehicles powered simultaneously by batteries and fuel to achieve better
fuel economy than a conventional car.
ksnam@yna.co.kr
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