GM and LG Energy Solution collaborate to make LMR battery for electric vehicle
News, 14 May 2025
Innovative LMR Battery Cell Technology Advances GM and LG Energy Solutions
General Motors and LG Energy Solution are joining to introduce lithium manganese-rich (LMR) prismatic battery cells for GM’s future electric trucks and full-size SUVs.
GM could be the first carmaker to include LMR batteries in its electric vehicles. Pre-production at a plant owned by LG Energy Solution is scheduled to start in late 2027, with Ultium Cells, their joint venture, aiming to produce LMR prismatic cells commercially in the United States by 2028. The final design of these LMR battery cells will undergo validation at both GM’s Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, MI (anticipated to open earlier that year), and LG Energy Solution’s facilities.
Traditional battery cathodes rely on materials such as cobalt, nickel, and manganese, with cobalt being the most expensive component. LMR battery cells utilize a higher concentration of manganese, a more cost-effective alternative, while simultaneously boosting capacity and energy density.
A newly engineered LMR prismatic battery cell, the result of collaborative work between GM and LG Energy Solution, offers a 33% improvement in energy density over today’s lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries while remaining economically competitive.
By integrating LMR battery technology’s space-efficient design with the manufacturing benefits of prismatic cells, GM aims to substantially reduce the expenses associated with current high-nickel battery packs and offer electric vehicles with a range exceeding 400 miles. GM initiated the rapid development of manganese-rich lithium-ion battery cells, utilizing an LMR cell prototype, starting in 2015 at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center in Warren. In collaboration with various partners, GM engineers refined cathode materials, electrolytes, additives, form factors, and cell assembly procedures to overcome historical challenges related to LMR technology’s performance and longevity.
With more than 200 patents obtained in this field, LG Energy Solution has the largest LMR technology intellectual property portfolio in the world. This expertise is the result of extensive research, with their initial LMR chemistry patent dating back to 2010.
The integration of LMR battery technology into GM’s battery supply chain and cell manufacturing processes reinforces their strategic investments in domestic battery production and the responsible sourcing of vital materials like lithium, graphite, and manganese from North America.
