GM announces major battery breakthrough
General Motors' full-size electric vans and SUVs are among the best when it comes to range, but consumers have to pay a very high purchase price. But that's not going to be the case with the next generation.
With its partner LG Energy Solution, the American automaker announced on Tuesday that it intends to become the first to market prismatic manganese-rich lithium (LMR) battery cells for its future models, thanks to a new technological breakthrough.
This project is part of a partnership between the two companies to develop prismatic battery cell technology and related chemistries. LG Energy Solution already holds over 200 patents in the LMR field.
Battery cathodes require materials such as cobalt (the most expensive), nickel and manganese. However, LMR cells use a higher proportion of manganese, which is more affordable, while offering greater capacity and energy density.
Battery engineers from GM and LG Energy Solution have developed a new LMR prismatic battery cell that offers 33% higher energy density than the best-performing lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells, all at a comparable cost. Range could exceed 650 km, GM claims, but vehicle prices would fall “significantly” compared with current Chevrolet Silverado EVs and GMC Sierra EVs with high-nickel batteries.
“We're innovating with manganese-rich battery technology to deliver superior range and performance at an affordable cost, especially for electric trucks,” said GM's Vice President of Batteries, Powertrain and Sustainability Kurt Kelty, whose ultimate goal is to achieve price parity between gasoline and electric vehicles.
Pre-production of LMR battery cells will begin towards the end of 2027 at an LG Energy Solution plant. The following year, commercial production will begin in earnest at Ultium Cells, a joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution.
