GM-VOLT : Chevy Volt Electric Car Site

On December 2 at EVS23, A123Systems publicly unveiled the lithium ion battery cell that they have co-developed with GM specifically for the Volt. It is a flat “prismatic” cell that is significantly larger than the cylindrical cells that we are used to seeing from A123. The cell is rectangular, and is designed to be stacked within the pack like slices of bread. GM chose a stackable, space-efficient battery format for the Volt so as to minimize the volume of the pack.

Exact specifications of the cell have not been released.

According to A123 engineers at the event, they have also developed proprietary algorithms that can precisely monitor their battery technology’s voltage and state of charge – thus eliminating concerns that the battery could suddenly drain completely empty without warning. They developed this software as a part of their hybrid electric bus program, which is independent of their collaboration with GM.

GM’s Denise Gray has stated in the past that they are developing their own battery management software “in-house”, so it is unclear if A123′s software will be shared as a part of the Volt program.

[Thanks to AES for this guest post! - LD]

Rick Wagoner

The bill has not been fully presented publicly yet, and Bush will still have to vote on it.

GM Chairman Rick Wagoner has already issued his comments saying the rules pose:

“a significant technical and economic challenge to the industry”

and that GM plans to meet the goals:

“with an array of engineering, research and development resources. We will continue our aggressive pursuit of advance technologies that will deliver more products with more energy solutions to our customers”

Source: (Bloomberg)

It was announced late yesterday by Rep. John D. Dingell (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce that the House of Representatives finally reached a consensus on the new CAFE standards bill.

They have agreed upon a combined 35 mpg standard by 2020 and still maintainig a distinciotn between cars and trucks; the automakers will like that.

Incentives will also be included for building biofuel vehicles.

The final document will be written over the weekend.

Source (House Energy Committee)

The last of 3 parts of an official GM briefing on the status of the Chevy Volt, from LA, November 14th.  This segment includes Denise Gray, battery director.