General Motors speeds up on electric: 400 miles LMR batteries are coming

General Motors aims to overcome the current limitations of electric cars with a New generation of batteries based on lithium and mango chemistry ((source). The project, together with together with LG -Energy solutionprovides for the approval of prismatic cells with high energy density for Future pick-ups and electric SUVswith the aim of achieving a maximum autonomy of approximately 400 miles per single charge, or just passed 640 kilometers.

The Battery LMR (Lithium manganese-rich) They are largely replacing cobalt with the most accessible manganese. It is a big step forward when we consider that cobalt is at the same time more expensive and criticized because of the ethical impact of the extraction methods. The cells also use one prismEasier to assemble compared to traditional cylindrical cells, with benefits in terms of costs and spaces.

GM currently uses high nickel batteries on models such as Chevy and Cadillac ElectricThat reach around 320 miles autonomy. The new prototypes based on LMR batteries, already tested in around 300 copies at the Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Centerpromise services that are equivalent to the current batteries, even in extreme environmental conditions, with the further benefit of Most abundant and easily available materials on the North American market.

The production starts in 2028 until Ultium cells, La Joint Venture GM – LGpreceded by a pre-production phase for the end of 2027 the Warren Development CenterActive since 2027, it will be crucial to refine the processes and reduce the risk of losing capacity, one of the most important obstacles of LMR -chemistry.

Second CourtVICE president of GM for batteries, the goal is to break the final price of electric cars since then The accumulator represents up to 40% of the total costs of a vehicle. The new technology promises a consistent decrease thanks to cheaper materials and less complex processes, at a time when the Commercial tensions with China They run the risk of increasing the prices of imported raw materials.

GM claims to have invested Years of research in this projectThat is presented today as an important lever to make electric vehicles more accessible and less dependent on foreign supply chains.