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GM and LG Energy team up on new, lower cost EV battery tech
CDG News Alert (1 min. read)
Anna del Villar
May 14, 2025
Full-size prototype LMR battery cell at the GM Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center via General Motors
Driving the news: GM $GM ( ▼ 0.36% ) has announced that it's partnering with LG Energy to develop "lithium manganese-rich" (LMR) prismatic battery cells that could finally make electric trucks both practical and profitable by 2028.
For context: Instead of relying heavily on expensive cobalt and nickel, these LMR batteries use abundant, cheaper manganese while delivering 33% more energy than today's affordable LFP battery options. GM says this solves the fundamental dilemma of electric trucks: how to offer 400+ miles of range without charging premium prices that scare away buyers.
Why it matters: Big vehicles need big batteries, but bigger packs mean higher costs, longer charge times, and heavier builds—all of which eat into range and margins. GM’s bet is that LMR can break that cycle.
What we're watching: Both GM and LG will validate their designs at GM's new Battery Cell Development Center in Warren before transitioning to commercial production through their Ultium Cells joint venture.
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