GM Plugs Its Chevy Volt Hybrid, but Will It Be Road-Ready In Time?
A single component will make or break Chevrolet's new Volt "extended-range electric vehicle"--and with it, potentially, the fate of America's largest carmaker, General Motors: its battery. It's no wonder then that some GM executives call the Volt's battery "our diva." After all, the new lithium-based pack provides the essential spark that makes the new design go in more ways than one--from its green performance and driving range, right down to its wind-cheating looks."Not only is the battery all-important to running the car, it is supremely sensitive to its environment and to how it is operated…almost to the point that we think of it as a living thing," says Frank Weber, Chevy Volt vehicle line executive. "Our goal is a 10-year lifetime or 150,000 miles (241,400 kilometers) from a vehicle that satisfies all the customer's expectations without sacrifices and compromises." Making that happen with technology that emerged from the lab only a few years ago is the "true challenge," he adds. [More]