General Motors is reaching for the Moon once again—this time with advanced electric vehicle battery technology designed to power NASA’s next-generation Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV).
More than 50 years after GM engineers helped build the wheels, motors, and suspension for the Apollo lunar rover, the automaker is returning to space exploration as part of a team led by Lunar Outpost. The group is competing for a NASA contract to develop a new rover capable of carrying astronauts across the Moon’s surface.
The Apollo-era rovers, first used in 1971, relied on non-rechargeable silver-zinc batteries that limited range and lifespan. By contrast, GM’s new design will leverage lithium-ion NCMA batteries—similar to those powering today’s Chevrolet Equinox EV and GMC HUMMER EV—enhanced to survive the harshest lunar conditions.
“These batteries must endure temperatures as low as -334°F and last more than a decade,” said Madhu Raghavan, group manager of GM’s battery and system architecture team. “They’re fault-tolerant, heavily insulated, and built with precision laser welding to ensure reliability in an environment where failure isn’t an option.”
In addition to batteries, GM is providing the chassis, suspension, and autonomous driving technologies adapted from its Super Cruise system. The rover will operate both crewed and uncrewed, with tasks such as surface mapping to aid future missions.
The engineering team has already demonstrated remarkable range improvements. A recent test saw a 2026 Chevrolet Silverado EV Work Truck travel over 1,000 miles on a single charge—evidence, GM executives say, of how far the technology has come since the early days of spaceflight.
“Battery technology has truly gone to the Moon, and back,” said Kurt Kelty, GM’s vice president of battery, propulsion, and sustainability. “What started as powering camcorders and laptops has evolved into systems capable of carrying astronauts across the lunar surface.”
NASA is expected to decide later this year which rover concepts will move forward. For GM, the mission is both a return to its aerospace legacy and a step toward advancing EV innovation here on Earth.
“Returning to the Moon is great for our nation, and our participation is a significant point of pride,” said Dr. Bruce Brown, vice president of growth and strategy at GM Defense. “It also strengthens our work in defense, where electric and autonomous solutions are becoming critical.”
With the race to the Moon heating up, GM’s cutting-edge battery systems may soon prove they can go farther than ever—this time, on another world.
