LG Energy Solution may have found a breakthrough that could make future electric trucks and SUVs cheaper to build while still delivering long driving range. The company says it has solved a key stability problem in lithium manganese-rich batteries, a promising EV battery chemistry that could reduce dependence on costly materials like nickel and cobalt.
Lithium manganese-rich, or LMR, batteries have attracted major interest across the electric vehicle industry because they use manganese, a more affordable and widely available material. In theory, LMR cells can offer energy density close to the premium battery packs used in long-range and performance EVs, but at a lower production cost.
The challenge has been durability. LMR cathodes have a tendency to release gas during charging and discharging. In small consumer batteries, this is not a major concern. But in large-format EV batteries used in electric pickups, SUVs, and other high-capacity vehicles, gas generation can affect safety, lifespan, and performance.
LG Energy Solution worked with Professor Jongwoo Lim’s research team at Seoul National University’s Department of Chemistry to better understand the cause of the issue. Their study found that oxygen inside the cathode becomes oxidized during charging but does not fully return to its original state during discharge. Over time, this incomplete recovery can damage the internal structure of the battery cell and contribute to unwanted gas buildup.
The solution came down largely to controlling voltage more precisely. By lowering the maximum charging voltage from 4.6 volts to 4.3 volts, researchers increased the recovery rate of oxidized oxygen from 86% to 97%. They also found that reducing the discharge cutoff from 3.0 volts to 2.0 volts allowed the oxygen to recover almost completely.
LG Energy Solution then adjusted the battery’s operating voltage range and lowered the temperature during the cell formation process. These changes helped suppress gas generation in large 40 Ah battery cells, showing that the improvements could work beyond small laboratory samples.
The results were significant. The redesigned LMR cells retained more than 92% of their original capacity after 883 charge and discharge cycles. That level of durability suggests lithium manganese-rich batteries could be practical for real-world automotive production, not just experimental research.
This development is especially important for the future of affordable long-range electric vehicles. If LMR batteries can deliver strong energy density without relying on large amounts of nickel or cobalt, automakers may be able to reduce battery costs while maintaining the range buyers expect from electric trucks and SUVs.
LG Energy Solution is already preparing to bring the technology into production. The company has partnered with General Motors to develop prismatic LMR battery cells for future electric trucks and SUVs, with plans targeting the end of this decade.
If successfully commercialized, LG’s lithium manganese battery breakthrough could play a major role in making next-generation EVs more affordable, durable, and capable of traveling longer distances on a single charge.
