GM and LG Energy Solution achieve battery tech breakthrough
General Motors (GM) and LG Energy Solution have announced plans to commercialize lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for future GM electric trucks and full-size SUVs, providing a 33% higher energy density compared to the best lithium iron phosphate (LFP)-based cells, all at a comparable cost. Kurt Kelty, VP of battery, propulsion, and sustainability at GM, emphasized that the new battery cells will be especially prevalent within the automaker’s electric truck lineup, with over 400 miles of available range while optimizing savings over their high-nickel pack, which currently supplies segment-leading range in those electric trucks.
The pre-production of LMR prismatic cells will begin at an LG Energy Solution facility by late 2027. GM will be the first automaker to deploy the tech in EVs with full commercial production in 2028. Ultimately, GM’s upcoming use of LMR battery tech reduces production and buyer costs while maintaining impressive range and promoting domestic battery production through responsible sourcing of materials like lithium, graphite, and manganese in North America.
GM
A long time coming
GM has been researching manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells since 2015, prototyping the technology at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren, Michigan. Overcoming LMR legacy challenges in performance and durability involved GM and its partners “engineering advanced cathode materials, electrolytes, additives, form factors, and cell assembly processes.” The challenges have consisted of significant cobalt usage posing expense challenges, struggles to match the energy density of nickel-manganese-cobalt batteries, and structural stability issues during charge cycles. Over nearly a decade, GM engineers’ work involved prototyping 18 cell variations representing 1.4 million miles of driving, TechSpot reports. LG Energy Solution has over 200 patents in this tech field, with its first LMR patent secured in 2010.
Steve Fecht for General Motors
LG Energy Solution is a spin-off company of LG Chem, a leading global maker of lithium-ion batteries for EVs, energy storage systems, mobility, and IT. The organization aims to achieve carbon neutrality across its business process chain by 2050. Wonjoon Suh, executive VP and head of the Advanced Automotive Battery division at LG Energy Solution, added in GM’s announcement: “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.”
Final thoughts
LMR battery tech’s ability to integrate into GM’s battery supply chain and cell manufacturing promotes investments in domestic battery production and the responsible sourcing of critical materials from North America. This achievement is especially significant with President Trump’s recently imposed tariffs, which push to localize supply chains and reduce reliance on imported battery materials.
The LMR battery’s prismatic design replaces the pouch format used in GM’s current high-nickel packs, allowing for more efficient packaging in larger trucks and SUVs. This optimized packaging lowers the number of necessary parts and reduces costs, theoretically creating savings for consumers. Cost reduction here is vital, as GM electric trucks with leading range, like the 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV LT Extended Range, hold a $75,195 base price. GM’s current electric truck lineup uses NMCA batteries with 5% cobalt, but the automaker’s upcoming LMR tech uses “virtually no cobalt,” according to its press release.
