GM Readies Volt Batteries for Road Testing
Published April 4, 2008
GM claims that next-generation lithium ion batteries will allow the Volt to travel up to 40 miles without a drop of fuel, grant zero-to-sixty times below nine seconds, and deliver fuel economy of approximately 150 miles per gallon.
Later this month, General Motors will begin real-world testing a fleet of Chevrolet Malibus outfitted with lithium ion battery technology—as part of a push to bring the Chevrolet Volt concept vehicle to market. GM is targeting November 2010 to begin selling the Volt, a plug-in hybrid designed to travel up to 40 miles strictly on electricity. The performance of the batteries and energy storage technology is the largest hurdle for GM to get the Volt into production.
By most industry standards, the release of the Volt in 2010 is an aggressive target date—especially for a new vehicle with unproven technology. Some industry analysts and environmentalists, and electric vehicle enthusiasts speculate that the company will produce few units, perhaps only for fleet use, in the first year. Others characterize the Volt as "vaporware" and merely a play for eco-friendly publicity.
Lithium ion batteries are significantly lighter and more powerful than the nickel metal hydride batteries used in today's hybrids. GM has been conducting lab tests on two separate packs—one from U.S.-based A123 Systems and the other from Korea’s LG Chem—to determine which technology is best suited to the Volt.
According to the latest announcements from GM, the new batteries will allow the Volt to travel zero to-sixty in less than nine seconds, deliver fuel economy of approximately 150 mpg, and will last for 10 years or 150,000 miles.
Batteries are not the only hurdle for the Chevy Volt. GM will also be racing the clock to redesign the shape of the vehicle to improve its aerodynamics, and to figure out how to manage the gas sitting in the Volt’s tank for long periods of time. For drivers who seldom drive more than 40 miles in a day, the same tank of gasoline could go unused for weeks or months.
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GM keeps whining that it is not just a concept or vaporware but it is still vapor ware until they hit the street.
And sell it to the general public at a competitive price. Otherwise only Ed Bagley Jr. will be driving one.
Go GM Go! Let's not be too pessimistic. They are moving forward.
At least they're testing real batteries.
I'm sure Toyota will have LI Priuses and Camries by then.
Heck any existing hybrid is likely to be converted to LI as soon as the technology stabilizes.
If I can just wait long enough (but not too long) I'll get my 100MPG car :-)
Ya, I don't know what to think. GM is really getting aggressive with the volt. Some very good research is going on here at a breakneck schedule. Do they actually "get it" now? Or is this just another in a long line of PR stunts? Time will tell, but given the fact that the big 3 sales number where way down last month, and trucks and SUV's led those numbers (as the worst), I want to believe this is real, but you can't help but be skeptical, I mean it's GM.
The technology is out there, so the next steps are inevitable. It's just a matter of who will be the first. Thank goodness the Toyota and Honda people were not as pessimistic. I think we all have to vote with our dollars to ensure this comes to pass. You don't think Big Oil and related industries are going to let this go off witout a hitch, do you?
If you look at the ill effects on body and planet from harmful emissions, and realize we have withstood this far longer than appears now necessary, you'll realize that its now our turn to get behind the technology and push, instead of standing on the sidelines and poo-poo-ing it all.
I can hear the Auto execs and editors groaning, "It'll never work...." Then GM will produce like 7 or 8 a month and say there is no market. They'll then drop the whole line in 2 or 3 years.
Hey, at least give them credit for trying. Right?
What about Valence new li-ph, batts?
The new generation of them looks revolutionary, has anybody comment about it, the share jumped 300% in 5 days.
Who gives a flying @#$% what a company's share price just did! Are you a stock hyper just trying to make money?
There are many companies out there producing LiPo and LiIon Batteries. None of this is new and TESLA is proving that. The hard part is making them perform over 10 years under serious environmental conditions. I wish GM and everyone else would act a little more like Toyota and Honda. Give us the facts without sugar coating it and then shut up until you have something real to offer. Hyping a non-existent car or stock just feeds the disappointment and adds to pessimism.
As for Big Oil trying to kill this stuff, they could give a darn since we need oil for way more than just fueling our cars.
Funny that you mention VLNC. I just started looking into them today. They have been publicly traded for over five years which is nice and they are making headway with their new li pho stuff. I think it behooves any investment minded person to be looking for profit potential in this potentially huge shift. I ordered their investors package today so it's definitely a possibility in my book. Way to go ADVILL
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