The birth of the Chevrolet Volt and its November 2010 marketing date are just the first steps of American Manufacturer General Motors's vehicle electrification plan. According to GM executives, this is in fact the only path that allows them to plan the future a little more serenely.
"The announcements made earlier this year in Detroit, particularly concerning the opening of a battery laboratory and production plant, demonstrate that GM is serious and firmly believes that electric cars represent the future of private transport," explained Bob Kruse, executive director of hybrid vehicle engineering at GM.
A long-term strategy
GM is not counting only on the Volt to carry out this strategy. The introduction of the Cadillac Converj in Detroit and the Opel Ampera a few days ago in Geneva backs up this claim. But GM plans on taking control of its destiny by way of battery technology.
"We've already confirmed that our lithium-ion batteries will be developed in collaboration with Korean-based LG Chem. But as the months go by, General Motors will be taking strategic control of the development of automotive battery cells," continued Kruse.
For example, GM will be undertaking the thermal and electronic management of the batteries in direct relation to the car.
"We have in fact studied and applied LG Chem's chemistry, but we will be taking up the torch internally afterwards. What we are aiming for is the use of these batteries on a global scale not only for the Volt, but for an entire range of future vehicles," said Andrew Farah, Volt chief engineer.
High-tech batteries
Needless to say, the lithium-ion battery is a technological marvel no matter the manufacturer. In GM's case, it is lighter (around 175 kilos), more compact and, especially, comes in a package that can be directly inserted into the car's chassis.
"We succeeded in giving it a shape that allows us to insert it into the chassis under the car, just like any other component. This way, we can keep our current production process without changing anything," specified Kruse.
The package was also developed with passenger safety in mind and features reinforcing bars that increase chassis stiffness. Lastly, nearly every component can be either recycled or reused once the car's useful life has come to an end.
"What we are presenting today is not a mechanical vision, but strategic information. Our batteries, which will be produced in Michigan, are just the first step in a long-term electrification process that will ensure our future," stated the executive director.
The only trouble is that any financial announcement has yet to be made concerning either the batteries or the Volt. "We'll see what the sales price will be at launch time," concluded Kruse.
photo:General Motors
"The announcements made earlier this year in Detroit, particularly concerning the opening of a battery laboratory and production plant, demonstrate that GM is serious and firmly believes that electric cars represent the future of private transport," explained Bob Kruse, executive director of hybrid vehicle engineering at GM.
A long-term strategy
GM is not counting only on the Volt to carry out this strategy. The introduction of the Cadillac Converj in Detroit and the Opel Ampera a few days ago in Geneva backs up this claim. But GM plans on taking control of its destiny by way of battery technology.
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| 2009 Cadillac Converj concept |
"We've already confirmed that our lithium-ion batteries will be developed in collaboration with Korean-based LG Chem. But as the months go by, General Motors will be taking strategic control of the development of automotive battery cells," continued Kruse.
For example, GM will be undertaking the thermal and electronic management of the batteries in direct relation to the car.
"We have in fact studied and applied LG Chem's chemistry, but we will be taking up the torch internally afterwards. What we are aiming for is the use of these batteries on a global scale not only for the Volt, but for an entire range of future vehicles," said Andrew Farah, Volt chief engineer.
High-tech batteries
Needless to say, the lithium-ion battery is a technological marvel no matter the manufacturer. In GM's case, it is lighter (around 175 kilos), more compact and, especially, comes in a package that can be directly inserted into the car's chassis.
"We succeeded in giving it a shape that allows us to insert it into the chassis under the car, just like any other component. This way, we can keep our current production process without changing anything," specified Kruse.
The package was also developed with passenger safety in mind and features reinforcing bars that increase chassis stiffness. Lastly, nearly every component can be either recycled or reused once the car's useful life has come to an end.
"What we are presenting today is not a mechanical vision, but strategic information. Our batteries, which will be produced in Michigan, are just the first step in a long-term electrification process that will ensure our future," stated the executive director.
The only trouble is that any financial announcement has yet to be made concerning either the batteries or the Volt. "We'll see what the sales price will be at launch time," concluded Kruse.
photo:General Motors