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June 2009 
Chevy Volt's Batteries - Inspiring Article
~Matthew
(From Technology Review):
New Batteries Readied for GM's Electric Vehicle
The technologies behind the battery packs for the GM Volt are being tested and could be ready within a year.
This week, General Motors (GM) announced its selection of battery makers to develop and test battery packs for use in its proposed electric vehicles. The selected battery makers, Compact Power, based in Troy, MI, and Continental Automotive Systems, based in Germany, say that they've overcome the performance and cost limitations that have been an obstacle to electric vehicles in the past.
Over the next 12 months, researchers from, Compact Power, Continental Automotive Systems and GM will be testing the battery-pack designs in the lab and in vehicles to confirm that the packs can work for the life of the car--at least 10 years, says Denise Gray, director of hybrid energy storage devices at GM. Initial tests of individual battery cells, along with projections about the performance of battery packs that can contain hundreds of these cells, have Gray optimistic that her company will have proven packs by June 2008.
If the packs perform well, they are slated for use in the proposed Chevrolet Volt, an electric concept car announced by GM in January. The Volt marks a change in emphasis for GM, which previously focused on more distant plans to bring hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered cars to market. The Volt could be ready within a few years. Until now, however, it has been unclear who would develop its advanced batteries. (Read More...)
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Exciting stuff! My Mercury POS has about had it but unfortunately it looks like the Volt won't be ready for me. Prius?
The next generation Prius is supposed to get 94mpg. I'm guessing it will be a PHEV, as well. But Toyota hasn't come out and said that, yet… Yay for “green” competition!! :)
This is good news, although Im skeptical as to whether GM will actually release a 100% electric car anytime soon. Remember the EV1? They pulled that off the market because of pressure from the oil industry (see the documentary “Who killed the electric car?”)
Have you heard of the 100% Tesla Roadster? I posted a blog about it a little while ago, its awesome.
Yep, I've done a lot of research into the Tesla, as well as other all-electric cars. I don't think GM will make a 100% electric car any time soon. But I think a PHEV is better anyway, particularly since they have plans to make a bio-diesel version. Just my two cents.
I have a lot of reasons why I believe this, foremost on the list because the people aren't ready for a 100% electric car yet, anyway. And that was certainly one of the reasons the EV failed, a reason that should not be discarded when reviewing all the reasons for why the EV “died”. A PHEV is the perfect in-between car. Once people get used to plugging in, they'll be more likely to get comfortable with the idea of electric.
Then, as PV and other forms of sustainable energy production begin to increase (exponentially) with technological breakthroughs, we can move to a local/sustainable energy economy which will provide a boost to our home-based economy while simultaneously weening ourselves off of terrorist-funding crude oil. At the same time, China will be doing the same thing, which will create a far safer, cleaner world environment.
Well, anyway… I'm rambling. But hopefully that will give you a taste as to why I get so excited about this kind of news.
BTW, in case you haven't heard, the Volt has entered the production pipeline. It's no longer a matter of “if” they will bring it to the public, but “when”.
Hugs,
~M
P.S. Book recommendation: Plug-in Hybrids: The Cars that will Recharge America
It's promoted by the makers of “Who Killed the Electric Car” also. It's a sweet-ass book, IMO! ;)
That sounds really good, Im all for plug-in hybrids too, I just think that they shoud be on the market NOW. There is no excuse for further delay, it only keeps oil profits up and destroys our ecosystem and health further… I think its BS that the technology still needs to be worked out, there were all-electric cars on the road a hundred years ago…
I saw that book at a bookstore recently in their “green” section, it looks like a really good one. So keep the pressure on GM to actually produce this Volt in the next couple of years, so that Americans will stop being given just talk of progress and actually be offered the real thing.
Peace
Yeah, I agree, for the most part. If Chevy doesn't pull through with this, that will be the end of GM, IMO. So, the stakes are pretty high. But I sympathize, too. I know that in order to put a car into production, it has to pass certain warranty standards that home mechanics who, say, convert their priuses into PHEVs, don't have to. BTW, my favorite prospect for PHEVs is Visionary Vehicles. The guy working on that company is the man who brought Subaru to America.
But, if/when Chevy brings the Volt into production, it will fast-track the shift necessary to bring a sustainable energy economy to the planet.
Thanks for the comments, Colin!!! I really appreciate it :)
~M