GM’s cheaper battery tech could slash $6,000 off the Silverado EV without losing range

General Motors is pivoting away from lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries for its electric vehicles in the US, instead doubling down on new lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery chemistry that promises the same range at a lower cost. The Detroit automaker had originally planned to produce both LFP and LMR cells at its Tennessee battery plant with LG Energy Solution, but now the facility will focus solely on LFP batteries for grid storage and data centers. GM’s battery chief, Kurt Kelty, told Reuters that LMR batteries will serve as the “workhorse” for its EV lineup, offering similar energy storage to LFP packs at roughly the same weight but at a lower price point. “There is a possibility where LFP does not earn its way into our portfolio,” Kelty said. “That’s where we’re going to be using the big volume.” The shift underscores GM’s strategy to prioritize affordability in its EV lineup. Most of GM’s recent EVs have used nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries, which deliver better range than LFP but aren’t as well-suited for frequent 100% charging. The exception is the Chevrolet Bolt, which uses LFP batteries sourced from China’s CATL. Moving forward, GM plans to restrict NMC batteries to high-end models while deploying LMR batteries in more affordable vehicles. For the upcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV, which currently uses an NMC battery, GM claims an LMR battery of similar size and weight could deliver the same 400-mile range while cutting the truck’s cost by at least $6,000. “That is really going to be our bread and butter,” Kelty said. “That is going to be our main product line.” GM isn’t alone in pursuing LMR technology—cross-town rival Ford is also developing similar battery chemistry.