Powering the Future: Nick Irish and the Chemistry Behind GM’s EV Revolution
Nick Irish didn’t just grow up near the automotive industry—he practically grew up within sight of its innovation engine. His childhood home sat on a road aptly named General Motors Road, overlooking one of the most iconic and historically significant facilities in the world of automotive testing: GM’s Milford Proving Ground. For a curious kid like Irish, who always had a mind tuned to exploration and discovery, it was like growing up next to Area 51.
“I used to stare out my bedroom window, wondering what went on behind the gates,” Irish recalls with a smile. “It always felt like something exciting was happening over there—like I was watching the future being built.”
Little did he know at the time that he would one day be working on the very technologies that would shape that future.
From Field Trips to Fuel Cells
Irish’s first brush with the inner workings of GM came during a field trip in 11th grade. His class had arranged a visit to the Milford Proving Ground, and Irish leapt at the opportunity. That visit had a bigger impact than his teachers or classmates might have expected.
“I got in huge trouble because I tried to get back on the bus when the field trip was over,” he laughs. “I just wanted to go again—see more, learn more. It was that exciting to me.”
This mixture of childlike curiosity and deep technical GM interest would become a hallmark of Irish’s approach to science and innovation. After high school, he pursued a degree in chemistry from the University of Michigan, driven by a fascination with the building blocks of matter and a desire to understand how the world—and increasingly, how cars—were made.
His choice of major wasn’t random. Irish always saw science as a key to unlocking the mysteries around him, from the function of everyday materials to the inner workings of highly engineered technologies like automobiles.
“There’s this intrinsic beauty to chemistry,” he says. “It explains everything from why your soda fizzes to how a lithium-ion battery can power a vehicle for hundreds of miles. That kind of range—from the mundane to the transformative—is what pulled me in.”
A Career Born from Curiosity
Irish joined General Motors in 2001, shortly after completing his degree. He started out as an analytical chemist in the company’s research and development division. At the time, the world of electric vehicles (EVs) and hydrogen fuel cells was still in its early stages, but Irish saw potential.
“Even back then, you could feel the momentum beginning to shift,” he explains. “We were just starting to realize what kind of impact EVs could have, both environmentally and technologically.”
Over the next two decades, Irish became deeply involved in cutting-edge battery and fuel cell research. He worked on early-stage prototypes, chemical testing, and materials analysis—all aimed at pushing the boundaries of energy storage.
But by 2021, Irish was ready for a new challenge. He wanted to be closer to the action, to the physical batteries being tested and torn down. He wanted to get his hands on the tech that would one day sit inside the electric vehicles of tomorrow.
“I knew battery chemistry was a growth area, and I just had to be part of it,” he says. “It’s where the future is heading, and it felt like the perfect time to dive in.”
So, he transitioned to GM’s labs and proving ground team, where he now plays a key role in dissecting and analyzing electric vehicle batteries from the inside out.
A High-Tech Lab Hidden in Plain Sight
Irish’s workplace today is a 5,500-square-foot battery chemistry lab located on GM’s sprawling Warren Tech Center campus in Michigan. From the outside, the facility is unassuming—almost deliberately inconspicuous.
“I always joke that from the outside, you might think you’re walking past a broom closet,” he says. “I don’t think a lot of people know all the cool things we do in here.”
Inside, however, is a veritable playground for advanced science. The lab houses high-tech instruments including CT scanners, high-powered microscopes, and glove boxes that maintain a sealed, inert atmosphere to ensure safety and preserve the integrity of the battery samples under examination.
“This is not just a lab—it’s a chemistry command center,” Irish says proudly. “We’re running tests, analyzing results, and GM uncovering new ways to improve battery chemistry every single day.”
An Autopsy Lab for Batteries
The core of Irish’s work revolves around what he calls “battery autopsies.” Much like a forensic pathologist might dissect a body to uncover the cause of death, Irish and his team carefully dismantle battery cells to analyze their internal structure, composition, and behavior.
“Each day, we start with a list of EV battery cell parts and projects that need analysis,” Irish explains. “We assign the work across the lab team, and then we go in—cell by cell, component by component.”
The process is as methodical as it is fascinating. Using CT scanners, the team creates high-resolution, 3D images of battery cells to examine their microstructure. Thermal analyses determine the heat profiles and chemical properties of different components. Separation science allows the team to deconstruct complex chemical mixtures into their individual parts for precise analysis.
“Imagine someone hands you a slice of pizza and asks you to analyze the crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings—separately,” says Irish. “That’s essentially what we do. We separate the ingredients of a battery to understand what’s working, what’s failing, and how we can improve it.”
These efforts are critical not just for product development, but also for failure analysis. When batteries perform unexpectedly—whether better or worse—Irish’s team digs in to uncover why.
Driving the EV Transition
The importance of this work cannot be overstated. As GM charges forward with its bold vision of an all-electric future, battery performance, reliability, and safety are more crucial than ever. Irish’s lab is a linchpin in this transition.
“We’re not just studying batteries—we’re enabling a complete transformation in how we move people and goods around the world,” he says.
GM has committed to launching a full portfolio of electric vehicles, aiming for zero emissions across its light-duty lineup by 2035. That ambitious goal hinges on the kind of detailed, scientific work being done behind closed doors in labs like Irish’s.
“Every gram of GM material we analyze could help make batteries lighter, safer, more efficient,” he explains. “It all adds up to better range, faster charging, and longer life—which are the cornerstones of EV success.”
Chemistry in Unexpected Places
Irish is on a personal mission to raise awareness about the role of chemistry in the automotive world. For many, the idea of chemistry evokes images of beakers and Bunsen burners in pharmaceutical labs. But the automotive industry, he argues, is just as reliant on the periodic table.
“For decades, cars were made largely the same way—gears, pistons, reciprocal motion,” he says. “But now? The most important parts of the GM car are chemical. From battery cells to lightweight materials to next-gen lubricants, chemistry is everywhere.”
And it’s not just limited to EVs. Paints, plastics, adhesives, interior finishes—all of them involve chemical engineering. As materials become smarter and more sustainable, the role of chemistry is only set to grow.
“I like to say that GM chemistry is the silent partner in every car on the road,” Irish quips. “It may not be the first thing people think about, but it’s what makes modern vehicles possible.”
For Irish, the GM work is about more than innovation or technical excellence. It’s about legacy. As a father, he sees his work through the lens of the future he’s helping to build—not just for General Motors, but for his son and the next generation.
“This work is so important to GM secure a better future—for me, and for my son,” he says. “When I look at the big picture, I know I’m contributing to something that really matters. And I can see that impact every day.”
There’s a sense of purpose that fuels Irish, one that stretches beyond the lab. Whether he’s breaking down battery samples or mentoring younger chemists, he’s motivated by the belief that science, when applied thoughtfully, can solve the world’s toughest problems.
And for the kid who once GM pressed his face against the window, dreaming of what went on inside the Milford Proving Ground, the journey has come full circle.
