GM just did 34,000 years of battery testing in less than a month. Here’s how
Developing new EV battery technology takes years of research. General Motors, for example, says it’s put a decade of effort into lithium manganese-rich , or LMR, batteries, which aren’t yet in any of their vehicles on the road. But recently, the automaker says it made a big leap in that work. Using computer modeling, GM was able to virtually test more than 300,000 LMR battery pack configurations,…
General Motors (GM) recently accomplished testing the equivalent of 34,000 years of battery research in under a month. The company is utilizing computer modeling and artificial intelligence (AI) to accelerate its vehicle development process. Specifically, GM has been conducting virtual tests on more than 300,000 lithium manganese-rich (LMR) battery pack configurations, a process that would ordinarily take a typical computer 34,000 years of continuous operation to complete.
These virtual tests involve varying chemical combinations, temperature cycling, and other approaches to creating battery cells. According to GM's Chief Product Officer, Sterling Anderson, "If we had not had the luxury of some of these tools, we would have had to sample more sparsely from what was possible."
The accelerated development process allows GM to test more options instead of just a few configurations. This not only speeds up the testing process but also enables the company to explore a wider range of possibilities. GM aims to halve the time it takes to develop a vehicle by leveraging AI for testing and simulation.
Beyond battery testing, GM is also applying this AI approach to other aspects of vehicle development, such as autonomous driving capabilities. The company is conducting both real-world and virtual testing, with hundreds of data-collection vehicles driving millions of miles monthly. Virtually, GM's systems drive over 3 billion simulated miles per day.
By reducing vehicle development time to approximately two years, GM can adapt more swiftly to external challenges, such as tax credit changes, tariff fluctuations, and evolving regulations. This shorter development cycle makes the company more agile in responding to uncertainties in the automotive industry.
GM is actively working to deploy LMR batteries and aims to be the first automaker to do so. These batteries offer 33% more energy density compared to lithium iron phosphate chemistry and utilize less-expensive minerals like manganese. As a result, LMR batteries can provide a longer range—potentially exceeding 400 miles—while being more affordable and lighter.
GM is also developing its fourth-generation EV platform, which includes LMR batteries, a centralized upgraded computing system, and new electrical work. This platform features 30% less wiring and 40% fewer parts in motors and power electronics, making vehicles lighter and more efficient. GM and LG Energy Solution are collaborating on these batteries through a joint venture called Ultium Cells.
Commercial production of LMR battery cells is planned to commence in the U.S. by 2028 at the Ultium Cells facility in Spring Hill, Tennessee.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
