GM Bullish On Chevrolet Volt Project

GM Prepares To Select A Battery Provider For The Volt

General Motors (GM) appears ready to take the next important step with the Chevrolet Volt, its plug-in hybrid model, by naming a supplier for the battery powered car.

According to Bob Lutz, GM’s head of vehicle development, “I would say there’s almost no reasonable doubt in our minds anymore that this is going to work.”

Test Models Are Succeeding

Test mule cars utilizing the previous generation Chevrolet Malibu have been put to the paces over the past month, outfitted with lithium-ion batteries much like the ones GM says will power the Volt. The company’s goal has been to have the Volt travel 40 miles between charges with a small three cylinder engine available to extend that range as needed. Owners will be able to recharge their Volts in a standard household outlet overnight.

Two suppliers are in the running for supplying the Volt’s lithium-ion battery, a unit of South Korea’s LG Chem LG and German auto parts supplier Continental AG, who is adapting battery technology used by privately held A123 Systems.

A decision on a supplier will be made over the summer months.

(Source: Reuters)