Catalyst E2 [Photo by Proterra Inc. ]
South Korea’s leading chemical and battery making company LG Chem Ltd. will supply battery cells to a U.S.-based zero-emission electric bus manufacturer known for its vehicle with the longest driving distance on a single charge.
According to Proterra Inc. on Wednesday, it picked LG Chem as the supplier of batteries for its Catalyst E2, an electric bus that can drive up to 550 kilometers on a single charge, which is the longest range among electric buses sold in the market. The electric bus manufacturer claimed that the bus can drive a regular full-day route on one charge.
Proterra said that its electric bus traveled 1,100 miles without recharging in a recent test, setting a new record for the longest distance driven by an electric vehicle. The previous record is 632 miles for an electric bus and 1,013 miles for an electric car.
LG Chem will supply battery cells to the bus manufacturer to produce battery packs at a Proterra factory in California. Since 2016, both companies have put out joint efforts to develop optimized battery cells for large vehicles such as electric buses.
The battery loaded in the Catalyst E2 will come with high power performance - which is optimized for long-distance driving and high-speed charging, Proterra said.
Founded in 2004 in California, the electric bus developer has sold more than 400 vehicles to universities and transportation organizations in 42 cities around 20 states in the U.S.
LG Chem stocks closed down 2.1 percent, or 8,500 won, at 388,500 won on Wednesday in Seoul trading.
By Hwang Hyung-gyu
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