How is GM Leading on Sustainable EV Battery Technology?
Thirty years ago, the battery industry focused on powering camcorders and handheld gadgets – all consumer electronics.
General Motors (GM) is delivering electric trucks with up to 492 miles of range.
Progress in lithium-ion battery technology continues, but the true shift is now underway.
GM is developing improved batteries, while expanding US production, to strengthen North American supply and reduce costs through advanced technology.
Scaling manufacturing through collaboration
Global battery leadership hinges on the ability to produce at scale.
GM is addressing this through strategic joint ventures, the most prominent being Ultium Cells – its collaboration with LG Energy Solution.
Ultium is now the largest original equipment manufacturer (OEM) battery cell producer in North America, with quality and output matching top-tier global producers.
This scale-up supports GM’s wider push in the EV space.
The company now ranks as the second-largest EV seller in the US, reporting a 94% rise in first-quarter EV sales in 2025.
With a dozen electric models in the market, GM offers one of the most diverse EV portfolios in the industry.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned during my career, it’s that sustainable business is smart business,” says Cassandra Garber, Chief Sustainability Officer at GM.
“Reducing risk, seizing innovation and growth opportunity WHILE delivering real and meaningful impact is where it’s at. It’s hard, but when done, and done well, it’s transformative for both business and our world."
Another major partnership is with Samsung SDI. Together, the two companies plan to open a new facility in Indiana by 2027 that will produce prismatic cells. This additional battery format gives GM more flexibility to tailor batteries to specific vehicle types and customer demands.
Strengthening local supply chains
Batteries are at the core of EV performance and the materials that make them matter and GM is working to bring more of that supply chain onshore.
The company is not only scaling cell production but also moving towards securing North American sources of lithium, manganese and nickel.
GM is also investing in domestic production of cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolytes — all core components of battery packs.
By 2028, GM aims to grow the amount of North American content in its battery supply chain by eight times.
This approach is designed to deliver more control, reduce geopolitical risk and improve cost efficiencies while creating more US-based jobs.
From a product development standpoint, GM is optimising battery formats for different vehicles.
The use of prismatic cells cuts battery module components by 75% and reduces total pack parts by half. When combined with LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery chemistry — a cost-effective solution — GM expects to cut around US$6,000 per pack in its Chevrolet Silverado EV.
These savings will help the company deliver longer range and better value to more customers.
“Sustainability is not just good policy. It’s good business — good for the company, for employees and for recruiting and retaining the best people, people who will help us achieve our vision,” explains Mary Barra, Chair and CEO at GM.
“We’ve made tremendous strides through our investments and innovations in electric and autonomous technology and we’re going to expand our reach, especially with many important EV launches across a wide range of price points and segments this year.”
Innovation at the core
The Wallace Battery Cell Innovation Center (BCIC), located at GM’s Michigan campus, is a key part of its development pipeline.
The BCIC focuses on new-generation cell chemistries aimed at increasing energy density while cutting costs.
The goal is to streamline the move from lab discovery to full-scale production, speeding up how innovation reaches the road.
GM spends around US$7bn annually on research and development in the US, backing technology advances, supporting manufacturing growth and creating skilled jobs.
By pushing forward with battery innovation and local supply chain development, GM aims to make EVs more accessible while boosting US competitiveness in the global battery space.
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