General Motors is making a significant pivot in its electric vehicle battery technology roadmap. According to the company's battery business head, General Motors may abandon plans to use lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries in its EVs, instead placing its bet on a lithium-rich manganese-based battery technology it has been developing for over a decade. This strategic divergence sets General Motors on a different path from mainstream rivals like Tesla and Ford in the quest to lower EV costs.

The battery chief explicitly stated in an interview that LFP may not make it into the company's product portfolio. He described the lithium-rich manganese-based battery as the future mainstay for General Motors, emphasizing it is the technology the company will adopt at scale. According to the plan, a joint venture plant in Tennessee will begin producing LFP battery cells this month, but their ultimate application is not for electric vehicles; instead, they will be directed towards energy storage systems.

General Motors stated that the manufacturing cost of lithium-rich manganese-based batteries in the U.S. is roughly on par with LFP, but their energy density is approximately 33% higher. This means they can store more energy for the same volume or weight, offering greater range for larger vehicles. The company plans to deploy this technology in electric pickups and full-size SUVs. General Motors has invested heavily in manganese-based battery technology for years, with the goal of achieving commercial-scale production of these cells at its U.S. factories by 2028.

This strategic choice creates a stark contrast between General Motors and a growing number of peers adopting LFP. Currently, companies like Tesla, Ford, and Rivian are expanding the use of LFP batteries in their entry-level EV models to reduce vehicle costs. Until the lithium-rich manganese-based technology matures, General Motors' latest low-cost electric model, the Chevrolet Bolt, will continue to use LFP battery cells supplied by CATL as a transitional solution.