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China has set a target for the large-scale deployment of solid-state batteries by 2030, but CATL believes that achieving low-cost electric vehicles using the technology will remain more difficult than beginning production. Obstacles include manufacturing maturity, cost reduction, and improvements in performance and stability.
Ultium Cells, the joint venture between General Motors and LG Energy Solution, announced that its Tennessee plant will begin producing lithium-manganese-rich (LMR) battery cells, which promise higher energy density than LFP at a similar cost. The cells are scheduled for use in electric trucks and large SUVs starting in 2028.
General Motors plans to upgrade the Ultium Cells facility in Spring Hill to produce battery cells based on lithium manganese-rich (LMR) chemistry, with commercial production in the United States scheduled to begin by 2028. The company says these cells could offer 33% higher energy density than LFP batteries at a similar cost, making them candidates for electric vehicles targeting good range and a lower price.