Catalyst with Shayle Kann: GM's Big New Battery Tech Push
Podcast Information:
- Title: Catalyst with Shayle Kann
- Host: Shayle Kann, Latitude Media
- Episode: GM's Big New Battery Tech Push
- Release Date: June 26, 2025
Introduction
In this episode of Catalyst with Shayle Kann, hosted by Latitude Media, Shayle delves deep into the advancements in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology, specifically focusing on General Motors' (GM) latest innovation in battery chemistry. Shayle welcomes Kurt Kelty, GM's Vice President of Battery Propulsion and Sustainability, to discuss the current landscape of battery manufacturing in the United States, the intricacies of the supply chain, and the revolutionary LMR (Low Manganese Reduction) battery chemistry that GM is pioneering.
State of Battery Manufacturing in the United States
Shayle begins by setting the stage for the conversation, highlighting the challenges startups face in penetrating the EV battery market due to the capital-intensive nature and stringent requirements of vehicle Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs).
Key Insights:
- The U.S. is in the early stages of establishing a robust EV battery manufacturing sector.
- GM currently operates two high-volume factories with a combined capacity of roughly 80 gigawatt-hours.
- A third factory, a joint venture with Samsung named Synergy, is expected to commence operations in Indiana by the end of 2027, bringing the total capacity to approximately 120 gigawatt-hours.
Notable Quote:
“Our manufacturing in the US right now is very early stage, but we're rapidly expanding with significant capacity each factory brings.” – Kurt Kelty [04:33]
Navigating the Battery Supply Chain
Shayle and Kurt examine the intricate supply chain of EV batteries, tracing it from raw minerals to finished cell production.
Key Highlights:
- Anode Materials: Currently, almost 100% of graphite (both artificial and natural) comes from China.
- Cathode Materials: Diversified sources, primarily from Korea, with plans to localize further.
- Precursors and Minerals: Nickel primarily sourced from Indonesia and Canada, cobalt from the Dominican Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo, and manganese from multiple global locations.
- GM aims to localize its supply chain eightfold by 2028, investing heavily in domestic sources like Lithium Americas for lithium production in the U.S.
Notable Quote:
“Between now and 2028, we're going to localize the supply base by about Eightfold, putting a huge emphasis on bringing that supply chain into North America.” – Kurt Kelty [06:39]
Introduction to LMR Battery Chemistry
Shayle introduces GM's groundbreaking LMR (Low Manganese Reduction) battery chemistry, which promises to balance cost and performance more effectively than existing technologies like NMC (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) and LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate).
Key Points:
- LMR Composition: Reduced nickel content, increased manganese to lower costs while maintaining energy density.
- Performance Metrics:
- Comparable to NMC in terms of energy density.
- Priced similarly to LFP, making it a cost-effective alternative.
- Application Example: The Chevy Silverado EV achieves over 490 miles of range with high nickel, 400 miles with LMR at LFP pricing, and 350 miles with LFP.
Notable Quote:
“With LMR, you get something in between high nickel and LFP in terms of energy density, but at the cost of LFP.” – Kurt Kelty [19:00]
Technical Challenges and Solutions in Developing LMR
Kurt elaborates on the technical hurdles GM faced in developing LMR chemistry and how they overcame them through extensive research, collaboration, and strategic partnerships.
Challenges Addressed:
- Cycle Life: Initial LMR cells did not meet the required cycle life for automotive applications.
- Formation Time: Extended formation processes increased production costs.
Solutions Implemented:
- Leveraged GM's state-of-the-art R&D facilities and the Wallace Center for large-scale cell testing.
- Partnered with LG to integrate LMR chemistry into production lines, ensuring scalability and reliability.
Notable Quote:
“One of the challenges we had was on cycle life and how do we solve for that... everything that adds time in the production process just adds cost.” – Kurt Kelty [25:50]
Manufacturing LMR: Seamless Integration and Scalability
Shayle probes into the practicality of manufacturing LMR batteries, questioning whether it requires new facilities or can be integrated into existing production lines.
Key Insights:
- Compatibility: LMR can be manufactured using existing Ultium factories with minimal adjustments.
- Supply Chain Synergy: LMR utilizes the same suppliers and equipment as high nickel chemistries, ensuring seamless integration.
- Cost Efficiency: Leveraging surplus capacity and reducing steps in production make LMR economically favorable.
Notable Quote:
“LMR really piggybacks off all the work that we've done with high nickel. It's a drop-in solution.” – Kurt Kelty [28:54]
The Future of Battery Chemistry: Evolution and Optimization
Discussing the trajectory of battery technology, Shayle inquires whether LMR represents the pinnacle of battery innovation or if further advancements are anticipated.
Kurt’s Perspective:
- Continuous Evolution: Battery chemistries will keep evolving with ongoing advancements in materials like silicon for anodes.
- Optimization: GM is focused on optimizing existing chemistries (including LMR) while staying abreast of breakthroughs from startups and major manufacturers like Samsung.
- Market Diversity: Multiple chemistries (NMC, LMR, LFP) will coexist, each serving different market segments based on performance and cost requirements.
Notable Quote:
“There is a lot of future potential with LMR. We're continuing to evaluate and leverage what startups are doing.” – Kurt Kelty [30:46]
Market Positioning: LMR vs. LFP and NMC
Shayle explores how LMR will compete with LFP and NMC within the EV market, considering price fluctuations and varying consumer demands.
Competitive Landscape:
- NMC: Targets the high-range premium market, catering to customers willing to pay for extended range and performance.
- LMR: Positioned in the middle category, offering a balance between cost and range, appealing to price-sensitive consumers without significantly compromising performance.
- LFP: Remains dominant in the budget segment, especially in EVs where range requirements are lower and cost is a primary concern.
Kurt’s Insight:
- Diverse Offerings: GM plans to maintain all three chemistries to cater to different market segments over the next five years.
- Form Factor Innovations: Transitioning to prismatic cells to reduce part count and enhance manufacturing efficiency.
Notable Quote:
“There are markets for each one of these chemistries within the EV market alone.” – Kurt Kelty [33:39]
Timeline for LMR Integration into GM Vehicles
Shayle asks Kurt about the rollout timeline for LMR batteries in GM's vehicle lineup.
Deployment Plan:
- Early 2028: GM plans to introduce vehicles equipped with LMR chemistry.
- Preparation Steps:
- Finalizing cell recipes with LG.
- Establishing manufacturing processes at Ultium facilities.
- Integrating LMR into selected vehicle models to optimize cost and performance.
Notable Quote:
“Beginning of 2028 is when we're going to start introducing vehicles with LMR.” – Kurt Kelty [35:50]
Conclusion
Shayle wraps up the insightful discussion, emphasizing the significance of GM's LMR battery chemistry in advancing the EV market by offering a harmonious blend of cost efficiency and performance. Kurt expresses enthusiasm for the upcoming rollout, highlighting the collaborative efforts that have positioned GM at the forefront of battery innovation.
Final Thought:
“We're super excited about it because it's going to continue to drive down our costs and maintain really good performance in our vehicles.” – Kurt Kelty [35:41]
This episode of Catalyst with Shayle Kann provides a comprehensive overview of GM's strategic advancements in battery technology, emphasizing the company's commitment to localizing the supply chain, innovating battery chemistry, and catering to diverse market needs within the EV landscape.