LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University Develop Experimental LMR Battery with 92.2% Capacity Retention After 883 Cycles

On September 10, LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University announced experimental results for a lithium-rich manganese-based (LMR) battery. The experimental LMR cell retained 92.2% of its initial capacity after 883 charge-discharge cycles. The industry typically requires electric vehicle batteries to endure between 1,000 and 2,000 charge-discharge cycles. In the experiment, researchers adjusted the operating voltage: lowering the charging cutoff voltage from 4.6 volts to 4.3 volts increased oxygen recovery from 86% to 97%, and relaxing the discharge lower limit from 3 volts to 2 volts. Additionally, LG Energy Solution employed a low-temperature formation process—a preliminary activation step in cell manufacturing. LMR batteries are a subclass of lithium-ion batteries with manganese-based cathode materials. General Motors estimates that its proprietary LMR cells can achieve 33% higher energy density than lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cells at comparable costs. Previously, General Motors and LG Energy Solution announced plans to begin mass production of LMR batteries in the U.S. in 2028.