I agree …acquistion would be one of the BEST ways to develop an internal battery R&D and manufacturing capability. Could GM’s new Shanghai group be thinking of buying (or buying into) BYD or another Chinese company with A123-like lithium iron phosphate technology???

I generally agree with you about multiple sources of supply when purchasing from others. But, things change somewhat when the manufacturing process is internal.

Perhaps you will recall my posting a couple months ago. I threw out the possibility that GM might acquire one of the battery companies. This would allow GM to become their own battery supplier and to others as well.

You say… “Having a single source for your batteries is a bad idea. Better to have a competitive environment where many are working to develop a better solution. Pick the best cost/performance.”

You’re absolutely right!!! We almost never single-source anything in the space program for the reason you give, but it’s not unusual to have internal NASA R&D work & even limited assembly done aby more than one of NASA’s many facilities when the item is extremely critical & involves new or emerging technology.

I should have said that I believe GM should have 2 or more of its new facilities (i.e., Detroit, Germany and/or China) BOTH or ALL do the R&D & the production engineering of GM E-REV batteries in competition with each other, as well as maintain outside battery suppliers.