General Motors to build sodium-ion batteries for grid-scale storage

General Motors (GM) is partnering with US BESS manufacturer Peak Energy to develop and deploy grid-scale battery storage based on sodium-ion chemistry. The US auto manufacturer also plans to begin production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries within a month.

In its announcement, GM said sodium-ion will be “a defining chemistry for grid-scale energy storage systems” in the years ahead and the company is going to develop the technology at its battery R&D center in Warren, Michigan.

While it invests in new sodium-ion technology, the auto maker will progress its joint venture with LG Energy Solution to begin production of LFP batteries. GM and LG Energy have been developing their own LFP cell technology – named Ultium Cells – which will be used in the new energy storage product.

GM noted that repurposed GM EV batteries are already working in energy storage systems and that through a partnership with Redwood Materials, the company is deploying roughly 10,000 GM batteries into energy infrastructure, including Crusoe’s AI data center in Sparks, Nevada.

From next year, GM plans to deploy second-life battery packs at one of its own Michigan plants where roughly 100 packs are expected to provide 7.2 MWh of dispatchable energy and save more than $3 million in local electricity costs over the life of the installation, according to the company.

GM’s auto manufacturing business is also expected to increasingly offer flexibility for electricity grids. The company said integrating bidirectional capability will be a “foundational standard” across its entire portfolio, which includes US car brands such as Chevy and Cadillac.

The company’s vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology development is currently focused on software, according to GM, with the car maker adding it is finalizing utility partnerships and grid protocols to reduce friction for end users. GM said is inviting utility companies across the United States to collaborate on its V2G technology.

Collaborations already announced include a project in Northern California with the Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) which GM expects will results in a fleet of 130,000 GM EVs with more than 52,00 providing grid-balancing services by 2030. Meanwhile in Michigan, GM is testing with utility DTE Energy.

GM’s announcement follows fellow US auto manufacturer Ford Motor Company unveiling its new grid-scale energy storage platform earlier in 2026, after first announcing plans to enter grid-scale storage segment in late 2025. Ford and EDF announced a gigawatt-scale BESS agreement in May 2026 with deliveries expected to begin in 2028.