LG Chem
Encyclopedia
LG Chem Ltd. often referred to as LG Chemical and also known as Lucky GoldStar Chemical, is the largest Korea
n chemical company and is headquartered in Seoul
, South Korea
. It has eight domestic factories and direct marketing branches established around the world including the Americas (North and South), China, Russia, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Brazil. As of November 2, 2007, the Company merged with LG Petrochemical Co.
,
announced in a press release dated June 5, 2007 that it has been chosen by General Motors Corp. to develop a lithium ion (concretely, a lithium-ion polymer) battery system for the GM E-Flex platform
propulsion system. The E-Flex
electric vehicle architecture underpins the Chevrolet Volt
plug-in hybrid car that GM began producing in 2010. GM also tested batteries from a partnership of Continental AG
and A123Systems
. In October 2008, GM announced it had chosen CPI to provide the battery systems for the first production version of the Volt, which was rolled out in December 2010.
The Volt's battery cells are produced by LG Chem in South Korea
and subsequently shipped to the US, where the battery packs are assembled at a purpose-built facility in Brownstown Township, Michigan
owned and operated by GM. Compact Power is building a battery plant to manufacture the advanced battery cells for the Volt,in Holland, Michigan
. The $303 million Holland plant, funded by 50% U.S. Department of Energy matching stimulus funds
, is planned to open by mid 2012. The plant is expected to produce enough cells per year for between 50,000 to 200,000 battery packs for electric car
s and hybrid
s such as the Volt, the Ford Focus Electric
, and plug-in electric vehicle
s for other carmakers.
, plasticizers, specialty additives, alcohols, polyolefins, acrylic acids, rubbers, styrenics, performance polymers, engineering plastics, elastomers, conductive resins, and other chemicals.
for production of solar cell
s.
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
n chemical company and is headquartered in Seoul
Seoul
Seoul , officially the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South Korea. A megacity with a population of over 10 million, it is the largest city proper in the OECD developed world...
, South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. It has eight domestic factories and direct marketing branches established around the world including the Americas (North and South), China, Russia, Germany, Poland, Switzerland, India, Indonesia, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, and Brazil. As of November 2, 2007, the Company merged with LG Petrochemical Co.
Business Segments
LG Chem is a manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of petrochemical goods, plastics, flooring and automobile parts. The Company operates three main divisions: Chemicals and Polymers, Industrial Materials, and Information and Electronic Materials.Chevrolet Volt
Compact Power, Inc. (CPI), a subsidiary of LG Chem, based in Troy, MichiganTroy, Michigan
Troy is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan, and is a suburb of Detroit. The population was 80,980 at the 2010 census, making it the 11th-largest city in Michigan by population, and the largest city in Oakland County...
,
announced in a press release dated June 5, 2007 that it has been chosen by General Motors Corp. to develop a lithium ion (concretely, a lithium-ion polymer) battery system for the GM E-Flex platform
GM E-Flex platform
Voltec, formerly known as E-Flex, is a General Motors powertrain released in November 2010. The Voltec architecture is primarily a plug-in capable, battery-dominant electric vehicle with additional fossil fuel powered series and parallel hybrid capabilities...
propulsion system. The E-Flex
electric vehicle architecture underpins the Chevrolet Volt
Chevrolet Volt
The Chevrolet Volt is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle manufactured by General Motors. The Volt has been on sale in the U.S. market since mid-December 2010, and is the most fuel-efficient compact car sold in the United States, as rated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency...
plug-in hybrid car that GM began producing in 2010. GM also tested batteries from a partnership of Continental AG
Continental AG
Continental AG, internally often called Conti for short, is a worldwide leading German manufacturer of tires, brake systems, vehicle stability control systems, engine injection systems, tachographs and other parts for the automotive and transport industries. The company is based in Hanover, Germany...
and A123Systems
A123Systems
A123 Systems develops and manufactures advanced lithium-ion batteries and battery systems for the transportation, electric grid and commercial markets. The company has about 2,500 employees globally and is headquartered in Waltham, Massachusetts. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Yet-Ming Chiang, Dr...
. In October 2008, GM announced it had chosen CPI to provide the battery systems for the first production version of the Volt, which was rolled out in December 2010.
The Volt's battery cells are produced by LG Chem in South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
and subsequently shipped to the US, where the battery packs are assembled at a purpose-built facility in Brownstown Township, Michigan
Brownstown Township, Michigan
Brownstown Charter Township is a charter township of Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 30,627 at the 2010 census. It is part of the collection of communities known as Downriver. Brownstown's three separate segments are due to the incorporation of the cities of Flat...
owned and operated by GM. Compact Power is building a battery plant to manufacture the advanced battery cells for the Volt,in Holland, Michigan
Holland, Michigan
Holland is a city in the western region of the Lower Peninsula of the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated near the eastern shore of Lake Michigan on Lake Macatawa, which is fed by the Macatawa River ....
. The $303 million Holland plant, funded by 50% U.S. Department of Energy matching stimulus funds
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, abbreviated ARRA and commonly referred to as the Stimulus or The Recovery Act, is an economic stimulus package enacted by the 111th United States Congress in February 2009 and signed into law on February 17, 2009, by President Barack Obama.To...
, is planned to open by mid 2012. The plant is expected to produce enough cells per year for between 50,000 to 200,000 battery packs for electric car
Electric car
An electric car is an automobile which is propelled by electric motor, using electrical energy stored in batteries or another energy storage device. Electric cars were popular in the late-19th century and early 20th century, until advances in internal combustion engine technology and mass...
s and hybrid
Hybrid electric vehicle
A hybrid electric vehicle is a type of hybrid vehicle and electric vehicle which combines a conventional internal combustion engine propulsion system with an electric propulsion system. The presence of the electric powertrain is intended to achieve either better fuel economy than a conventional...
s such as the Volt, the Ford Focus Electric
Ford Focus Electric
The Ford Focus Electric is a 5-door hatchback electric car being produced by Ford Motor Company. The Focus electric will be Ford's first full production, all-electric passenger vehicle. The initial U.S. market roll-out is scheduled to be limited to 19 regional markets, beginning with California and...
, and plug-in electric vehicle
Plug-in electric vehicle
A plug-in electric vehicle is any motor vehicle that can be recharged from any external source of electricity, such as wall sockets, and the electricity stored in the rechargeable battery packs drives or contributes to drive the wheels...
s for other carmakers.
Chemical and Polymers
Raw materials and liquids including but not limited to polyvinyl chloridePolyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
, plasticizers, specialty additives, alcohols, polyolefins, acrylic acids, rubbers, styrenics, performance polymers, engineering plastics, elastomers, conductive resins, and other chemicals.
Industrial Materials
Residential flooring, commercial flooring, wall covering, surface and decorative materials, advertising banner sheets, membranes, and automotive components.Information and Electronic Materials
Lithium ion batteries, display and optical films, printed circuit materials, and toner.LG Solar Energy
LG Solar Energy is a subsidiary formed in 2007 to allow LG Chem to supply polysilicon to LG ElectronicsLG Electronics
LG Electronics is a global electronics and telecommunications company headquartered in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea. The company operates its business through five divisions: mobile communications, home entertainment, home appliance, air conditioning and business solution...
for production of solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
s.