General Motors has created new partnerships to come up with less expensive and easier to source battery chemistry. The Ultium Cells joint venture with Korea’s LG energy is set to go into production in 2028. GM claims the new technology will be cheaper without sacrificing range. More from Headlight.News.
The Silverado EV will be one of numerous GM models to adopt the new battery chemistry.
General Motors, working with South Korea’s LG Energy Solution, says it has developed a new battery chemistry that will bring down costs on mainstream electric vehicles without compromising on range.
The cell, called lithium manganese-rich, or LMR, is expected to reach market by 2028, starting with the automaker’s popular pickup trucks and full-size SUVs like the Chevrolet Silverado and Cadillac Escalade, according to GM and the Ultium Cells joint venture.
Automakers the world over are locked in a race to find new battery designs and battery chemistries that eliminate the need for rare and expensive metals such as cobalt and further the shift towards electric vehicles. Several other new battery technologies, such as solid-state cells, are in development, though it’s unclear when such breakthroughs will go into production.
GM hails move to LMR battery
A prototype of GM’s new LMR battery.
The commercial development of LMR batteries, which will be made at Ultium plants in Northeast Ohio and Tennessee, could give GM and LG a jump on competitors.
“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,” he added in the announcement.
Kelty added LMR unlocks premium range and performance at an affordable cost, “it’s a game-changing battery for electric trucks.”
LMR battery has benefits
The new battery chemistry will be able to replace GM’s current lithium-ion cells.
A number of new battery chemistries are under development, automakers and their suppliers targeting several key goals:
- Lower costs;
- Improved range;
- Faster charging.
GM will become the first automaker to deploy LMR batteries in electric vehicles, which establishes a new bar for EV range and affordability, the partners claimed.
The LMR battery technology also fits into GM’s battery supply chain and cell manufacturing processes, reinforcing strategic investments in domestic battery production and the responsible sourcing of critical materials like lithium, graphite, and manganese from North America.
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How it works
A GM technician works on a prototype of the new GM battery.
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 delivering greater energy density. In the past, the substitution failed to replicate the range of cobalt-nickel batteries and resulted in a shorter lifespan of the battery.
GM believes it can lower the weight of an EV by hundreds of pounds through 50% fewer parts in the battery pack and a reduction in battery modules by using prismatic LMR batteries and supporting technologies.
Estimates are the LMR batteries are expected to cost about $80 to $90 per kWh compared to $125 per kWh for GM’s current battery technology. They also have a 33% higher energy density, leading to longer range.
Plan could help avoid Trump tariffs
GM’s current Ultium batteries are shown rolling out at a plant in Spring Hill, TN.
GM also hopes to limit its reliance on foreign entities like China’s CATL and mitigate the company’s exposure to the Trump tariffs.
“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,” he added.
GM began researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells in 2015, accelerating this technology development by prototyping LMR cells at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren. LG Energy Solution holds the largest LMR technology IP portfolio globally, having secured over two hundred patents, dating back to 2010.
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