General Motors (GM) has announced a significant advancement in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, partnering with LG to develop lithium manganese-rich (LMR) batteries that promise a 400-mile range. This new chemistry, set to power GM’s upcoming electric trucks and SUVs by 2028, aims to make EVs more affordable and efficient while addressing ethical concerns tied to traditional battery materials.

A Leap in Battery Chemistry

GM’s collaboration with LG Energy Solution focuses on LMR batteries, which replace the costly and ethically problematic nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) mix used in most EV batteries today. Cobalt, a key NCM component, is expensive and often mined under conditions that violate human rights, earning it the nickname “blood diamond of batteries.” LMR batteries, by contrast, rely on more abundant and affordable manganese, reducing costs while boosting energy density. According to GM, this shift enables a range increase from the 300–320 miles seen in current models like the Chevrolet and Cadillac EVs to a robust 400 miles.

“We like to joke that it’s as cheap as dirt,” says Andrew Oury, a battery engineer at GM, referring to manganese’s affordability. This cost reduction is critical, as batteries account for 30 to 40 percent of an EV’s price. GM’s Vice President for batteries, Kurt Kelty, emphasizes the economic strategy: “The EV growth rate is really dependent on how quickly we can bring the costs down over time. And this is the biggest lever we have.”

Implications for EV Owners and the Industry

The adoption of LMR batteries could reshape the EV landscape. For owners, the extended 400-mile range alleviates range anxiety, making electric trucks and SUVs more practical for long trips or heavy-duty use. The denser prismatic cells also simplify manufacturing compared to traditional cylindrical cells, potentially lowering production costs and, in turn, vehicle prices. GM aims to lead the industry, targeting commercial production in the U.S. by 2028, with cells manufactured by Ultium Cells, a joint venture with LG.

This development comes amid growing pressure to reduce reliance on foreign materials, particularly as automakers brace for potential trade policies under President Donald Trump that could raise prices on imports from China, the world’s leading producer of lithium-ion batteries. Over 70 percent of global lithium-ion battery production originates there, but GM is focusing on local sourcing. “We expect our localization of materials for the battery supply chain to increase between now and 2028,” Kelty states. “And LMR is part of that story, because we get more of the materials locally.”

Technical Challenges and Future Outlook

While LMR batteries offer significant advantages, they face hurdles in mass production. Manganese-rich cells are known to experience capacity loss, shorter driving ranges, and thermal stability issues. GM is confident in its approach, having prototyped around 300 full-size LMR cells with LG. The automaker claims the production process will mirror that of its first-generation high-nickel batteries, even in extreme temperatures, ensuring reliability.

The cells will undergo final validation at GM’s Battery Cell Development Center in Warren, Michigan, with production scaling up at Ultium Cells’ facility in Lansing by late 2027. This positions GM ahead of competitors like Ford, which plans to adopt LMR batteries by 2030. GM’s decade-long research into manganese-rich lithium-ion cells, started in 2015 at its Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center, underscores its commitment to innovation.

For EV enthusiasts and owners, GM’s LMR battery tech signals a future of longer ranges, lower costs, and more sustainable production—a combination that could accelerate the transition to electric mobility.

Photos courtesy of GM