LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University demonstrate a practical path to commercial lithium‑manganese‑rich (LMR) batteries by suppressing gas evolution and achieving 92.2 % energy retention after 883 cycles in 40 Ah cells
Executive summary: LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University published results showing that a gas‑suppression strategy enables 40 Ah‑class LMR pouch cells to retain 92.2 % of their initial energy after 883 charge‑discharge cycles. Gas evolution has been the primary obstacle to commercializing LMR cathodes, which promise 20‑30 % higher energy density than current NMC chemistries with less cobalt. Overcoming this barrier opens a pathway to cheaper, longer‑range EV batteries and high‑capacity stationary storage.
Who is involved: LG Energy Solution (South Korea’s largest battery maker) and a research team at Seoul National University.
Likely next: Scale the technology to 100 Ah‑class cells, begin automotive A‑sample testing with OEM partners, and pursue safety certification under UN 38.3 and the EU Battery Regulation (2026).
The joint research shows that the long‑standing gas‑generation problem in LMR cathodes can be mitigated at a cell size relevant for electric vehicles and grid storage. Retaining over 92 % of initial energy after nearly 900 cycles indicates a cycle life comparable to current nickel‑rich chemistries, while LMR offers higher specific energy and lower cobalt content. The work moves LMR from lab‑scale coin cells to a format that can enter automotive qualification pipelines.
Timeline
- — LG Energy Solution and Seoul National University Open the Door to Commercializing Next-Generation LMR Batteries (PR Newswire)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- LG Energy Solution plans to produce 100 Ah LMR prototype cells for OEM evaluation by Q1 2027.
- Automotive qualification (A‑sample) targeting UN 38.3 compliance expected mid‑2027.
- Potential partnership announcement with a European EV maker before end of 2027.
- EU Battery Regulation reporting requirements for new chemistries take effect Jan 2027.
Sectors affected
- Electric‑vehicle battery manufacturing
- Grid‑scale energy storage
- Consumer‑electronics high‑energy cells
Regulatory implications
- UN 38.3 transport safety testing will be required for any LMR cell shipped commercially.
- EU Battery Regulation (2026) mandates carbon‑footprint and recycled‑content reporting for new chemistries entering the market after 2027.
- US DOE’s Battery Materials Research Program may fast‑track funding for cobalt‑free cathodes like LMR.
Historical parallels
- NMC 811 commercialization (2017‑2019) – similar cycle‑life validation at 40 Ah before automotive adoption.
- Solid‑state sulfide electrolyte pilot cells (2020) – moved from coin to 20 Ah pouch before OEM trials.
- LFP‑to‑NMC transition in Chinese EVs (2015‑2018) – driven by energy‑density gains and cost reductions.