General Motors and LG Energy Solution have announced a battery technology breakthrough that they say will enable them to commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs.
GM aims to become the first auto maker to deploy LMR batteries in EVs. Battery cathodes require materials like cobalt, nickel and manganese, with cobalt being the most expensive. LMR battery cells use a higher proportion of more affordable manganese while also delivering greater capacity and energy density. Battery engineers at GM and LG Energy Solution have developed an LMR prismatic battery cell that unlocks 33% higher energy density compared to the best-performing lithium iron phosphate (LFP) based cells, and at a comparable cost.
GM’s current electric truck platform has segment-leading range using high-nickel chemistry. By integrating LMR battery technology, GM aims to offer more than 400 miles of range in an electric truck while achieving significant battery pack cost savings compared to today’s high-nickel pack.
“We’re pioneering manganese-rich battery technology to unlock premium range and performance at an affordable cost, especially in electric trucks,” said Kurt Kelty, VP of battery, propulsion, and sustainability at GM.
“As we look to engineer the ideal battery for each vehicle in our diverse EV portfolio, LMR will complement our high-nickel and iron-phosphate solutions to expand customer choice in the truck and full-size SUV markets, advance American battery innovation, and create jobs well into the future.”
“We’re excited to introduce the first-ever LMR prismatic cells for EVs, the culmination of our decades-long research and investment in the technology,” said Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution. “GM’s future trucks powered by this new chemistry are a strong example of our shared commitment to offering diverse EV options to consumers.”
GM began researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells in 2015. Ultium Cells, a GM and LG Energy Solution joint venture, plans to start commercial production of LMR prismatic cells in the USA by 2028, with pre-production expected to begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. The final production design of these LMR battery cells will be validated at GM’s Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, Michigan, which is expected to open early 2027, as well as LG Energy Solution’s facility.
In related news, CATL recently unveiled three impressive EV battery products: the Freevoy Dual-Power Battery; Naxtra, stated to be the world’s first mass-produced sodium-ion battery; and the second-generation Shenxing Superfast Charging Battery. Click here to read the full story