LG’s experimental LMR cells held 92.2% of their energy after 883 cycles

LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University report experimental lithium manganese-rich cells retaining 92.2% of their energy after 883 cycles, achieved by changing charge and discharge voltages rather than materials. The chemistry replaces nickel and cobalt with manganese, a strategic raw material China refines almost all of and Europe barely produces.

LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University say experimental lithium manganese-rich cells kept 92.2% of their energy after 883 charge cycles, InsideEVs reported. Electric cars are usually expected to manage 1,000 to 2,000.

The fix was operating protocol rather than new materials. Lowering the charging cutoff from 4.6 to 4.3 volts lifted oxygen recovery from 86% to 97%, and discharging to 2 volts instead of 3 helped as well.

A lower-temperature formation step during manufacturing cut gas generation and structural damage.

Cell stability can be improved “through electrochemical protocol design alone“, said Professor Jongwoo Lim of Seoul National University.

The appeal of LMR is the recipe. GM’s version runs roughly 65% manganese and 35% nickel with virtually no cobalt, and the company has put $900M behind it.

GM claims about 33% more energy density than lithium iron phosphate at similar cost, with LG production from 2027 and cells in trucks and SUVs from 2028.

From a European supply position, that trade is not obviously an improvement.

China refines about 96% of high-purity manganese sulphate, on figures compiled by a European manganese developer. The only Western battery-grade producer is Vibrantz in Belgium, at around 5,000 tonnes a year.

Manganese, cobalt and battery-grade nickel are all strategic raw materials under the Critical Raw Materials Act. On compiled trade data manganese is the most import-dependent of the three, at about 95% against 86% for cobalt and 63% for nickel.

EU demand for battery-grade manganese by 2030 runs from about 74,000 tonnes on the Commission’s conservative estimate to roughly 200,000 on industry forecasts.

Seven manganese projects were given strategic status in March last year. Only one is primary supply, and together they cover about 12% of that 2030 demand.

The battery rules do not price manganese in either. Recycled content minimums from August 2031 cover cobalt at 16%, lithium and nickel at 6% and lead at 85%, and manganese is not among them.

Durability is about to become declarable. Battery passports arrive on 18 February 2027 carrying lifespan data, and 92% after 883 cycles is a strong number in a chemistry whose supply chain, like most of Europe’s battery inputs, leads to China.