GM Picks LMR as Its Future Affordable Battery Technology

May 15, 2025

Roberto Baldwin

GM’s prismatic cells will reduce costs. GM said its new lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells offer 33% more energy density than the LFP (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. (General Motors)

Nearly every automaker with an electric car in its lineup has aimed to bring the price of EVs down to parity with their gas-powered counterparts. Concerns about EV tax incentives going away have likely super-charged concerns that EVs might still be too expensive for the average consumer. For many, it's imperative to produce vehicles with competitive sticker prices regardless of powertrain. It'll also help with EV adoption.

To try and meet this goal, GM announced that it's betting on lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells. The automaker says that the new battery technology will have 33% more energy density than the LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery technology many automakers are currently using to bring down EV prices. Both chemistry systems are less expensive to produce than lithium-ion battery packs.

For additional efficiency, GM said that it's moving to prismatic cells housed in rectangular cases. These cells will fit better in larger EVs like trucks and SUVs. GM currently uses high-nickel pouch cells in its vehicles. According to the automaker, moving to prismatic cells will reduce pack components by 50% and battery module components by 75%.

A denser battery pack with fewer components equals a less expensive pack. Currently, the battery pack is the most expensive part of an electric vehicle. Increasing density also allows automakers to reduce the pack size and weight, which equals more range from the same capacity pack.

Another big win for LMR cells is that there is "virtually no cobalt." Instead, the manganese content is 65% of the cell, and it's far less expensive and more readily available than cobalt or nickel. Cobalt supplies are notoriously expensive, with Congo controlling the supply for the entire industry. The nickel content has also been reduced compared to LFP battery packs. Again, this will reduce reliance on other countries for the production of the packs. China controls most of the world's nickel supply.

GM's cell partner LG Energy Solutions holds over 200 LMR technology patents. The joint venture had to work to fix one of the biggest issues with LMR packs, a short lifespan and a tendency to suffer voltage losses over time. LG and GM noted that thanks to proprietary dopings and coatings in addition to particle engineering, the LMR packs should have the same lifespan as its current nickel-cell battery packs. GM said it expect to put the new LMR cells into commercial production in 2028,