SMUD voted to approve their 2030 plan. Make sure you read the Full Plan and Connect with SMUD. Here is the full board meeting Presentation ABOUT THE AUTHOR Thomas is the Executive Director of CleanStart. Thomas has a strong background in supporting small businesses,...

GM Backs a Third Entrant in Battery Race
GM recently led a $139 million Series D investment round for Singapore-based SES (formerly Solid Energy Systems) to advance its thin lithium metal anode battery. It joins the race to get to 500+ Wh/kg with an ability to charge to 80% in 15 minutes, go for 1000+ cycles, and cost under $80/kWh. GM is the third major automaker to back a battery technology company in order to get a proprietary edge in the convenience and safety of a menu of new EVs. Ford along with Hyundai and others has invested $26 million in Colorado-based Solid Power which uses a lithium-metal anode and a solid-state electrolyte. VW has invested a fresh $100 million into San Jose-based QuantumScape with its lithium-free, ceramic separator-based technology. And of course, Tesla has made a major bet based on its new technology from a Canadian research group. SES captures the competitive landscape in an interesting graphic below.
You can read more on the SES announcement here.
Personal Note: Fifteen years ago, at all the energy storage conferences, the consensus was that batteries were never going to do better than 180 Wh/kg. It was almost a given. That spurred a great deal of interest in fuel cells as an alternate and higher energy-dense way to create a rechargeable power pack. How things have changed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Gary Simon is the Chair of CleanStart's Board. A seasoned energy executive and entrepreneur with 45 years of experience in business, government, and non-profits.
CleanStart Sponsors
Weintraub | Tobin, BlueTech Valley, Revrnt, River City Bank
Moss Adams, PowerSoft.biz, Greenberg Traurig, California Mobility Center