GM's Lutz Optimistic About Advanced Batteries
September 11, 2007

Though Toyota insists lithium-ion batteries preferred for plug-in hybrids are far from ready, General Motors is confident it could have more than one kind of lithium-ion battery ready for its Chevrolet Volt by its year-end 2010 target.

GM has development contracts with suppliers for advanced lithium-ion batteries. It may use batteries from more than one of them for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt and various other models using the Volt’s E-Flex system, including the Opel Flextreme, unveiled Tuesday at the Frankfurt auto show

GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz told AutoObserver at the show both A123Systems and LG Chem -- battery makers with development contracts with GM but that use different chemistries in their batteries -- are “absolutely confident” they can meet GM’s requirements for the Volt’s battery. GM insists the battery provides 40 miles of pure electric power, charge and recharge 4,000 times, have a 10-year life and is ready for GM’s plan to have the Volt on the road by year-end 2010.

“Everybody feels good about meeting the specifications,” Lutz said. “There’s none of this ‘we hope we can make it.’”

Asked by AutoObserver if GM had the multiple contracts to cover its bets or to create competition among battery makers, Lutz said both. “It could be we select one supplier over the other because of vastly superior technology of one. But I think the way it is going, we may use both suppliers.”

Does country of origin matter with A123Systems being American, based in Massachusetts, and LG Chem having Korean ownership? Lutz said no. However,  he added: “We’re happy we have people to work with that aren’t part of Japan Inc. That’s kind of a relief. We did check with Japanese suppliers, and they declined to participate.”

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