Lyle Dennis outside the Warren Michigan battery lab building
Recently we heard that GM had received it’s first new prototype lithium-ion battery pack from the A123 Systems (battery cell maker)/ Continental Automotive Inc (pack integrator) and that it had arrived in Germany on January 31st, on schedule.
Two packs from the other team, LG Chem (battery cell maker)/ Compact Power, Inc. (pack integrator), have been in GMs Warren, Michigan testing compound for months. As some may know, I got to see the pack tested firsthand there (see post).
We are interested to see the new pack and know more about how its testing will take place.
Unfortunately, no pictures yet, but I am told by E-Flex spokesman Rob Peterson,
“The pack will eventually be tested at our facilities in Warren – we want to test this battery on the same cyclers with the same procedures so it can be fairly compared with the CPI pack.”
I have also been told that a second A123/Conti pack exists and is either in transit or already delivered. Furthermore, as mentioned in this article, a 3rd CPI/LG Chem pack is scheduled for delivery this week. Although I haven’t confiremed it, I wonder if that pack is destined to sit in a mule?
The momentum is building fast folks, and over the next couple of month expect some major developments, so stay tuned!
This entry was posted on Sunday, February 10th, 2008 at 10:26 am and is filed under Battery. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Feb 10th, 2008 (11:04 am)Great to hear things are happening on the battery “front”! With a total of 5 packs already delivered or in transit I’m relieved that neither supplier ran into problems they hadn’t anticipated. This is a hopeful sign that BOTH A123/Conti and CPI/LG Chem will prove to be good sources, which should help assure GM is able to get the quantities needed for full-scale production.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (11:13 am)I agree with nasaman, thanks for all the news Lyle.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (12:08 pm)I honestly think with all the hype buildup, when the mules do hit the road, there will be more free publicity than GM will know what do do with. But just like a manager that has two players but only one open position, it will be an outstanding problem to have! Good times coming!
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Feb 10th, 2008 (12:31 pm)Good times are coming, indeed. Only 6 more weeks until Easter.
If GM is still on schedule, it will be nice to prove Toyota wrong.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (2:59 pm)Honda and Toyota are silent, but you can be sure they are working on an electric. They surely are not going to let any US automaker jump out in front on any new concept. They have not in the past.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (3:27 pm)It will be interesting to see the side by side comparisons of the test results for the two battery packs….
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Feb 10th, 2008 (3:51 pm)I’m sitting here thinking of something to type like :WOOHOO!” or “YIPPEE” and then got to thinking that our whole crew could also probably add: “But we don’t get OUT much!” lol. I AM seriously thrilled that the both companies now have packs in the running. This is GOING to happen!
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Feb 10th, 2008 (5:35 pm)Obviously GM hope to sell only gas guzzlers, Hummers and SUVs, really doubt Volt is a serious project that burns money and takes away resources when SUS bring zillions!
Look at here:
GM tells dealers to lobby states over emissions
CEO tells group that individual standards will hold automaker back
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23099276/
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Feb 10th, 2008 (5:48 pm)There was a post on here with a link to a press conference with Wagoner. I think that, contrary to #8’s belief, he is actually very concerned with this problem. He is in favor of a high gas tax as a means of motivating the market toward higher efficiency.
My impression from listening to the man speak is that he is very concerned about carbon emission, but is also concerned that there needs to be a better, cohesive government plan for achieving benchmarks than simply having individual states set their own standards.
Does anyone remember the link to the press conference he did with bloggers and journalists during the NAIAS.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (6:06 pm)#8, noone forces anyone to buy GM’s suv’s. We do that because we need the space. Try to pile a 3 year old, a 1 year old, all the associated stuff and a golden retriever in your prius and see how that flies after a 5 hour trip to grandmas.
I will have the volt for my daily commute (46 miles) and my wife will drive an SUV (10 miles round trip). We will most likely still take her car on long trips.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (6:26 pm)David L G, #9, I believe your link is here:
http://www.gm-volt.com/2008/01/19/gm-ceo-rick-wagoner-on-chevy-volt-risk/
#8, I read this article in my local paper this morning.
I was initially surprised that GM would care, because I see all vehicles going the way of the Volt. But perhaps I’m wrong in that?
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Feb 10th, 2008 (7:19 pm)You still have to ask yourselves why GM was so adamantly against the recent fuel economy hike? Of course, Toyota was too…
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Feb 10th, 2008 (7:25 pm)On the one hand the Volt.
On the other hand…
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hQ7UpdEGCCzmVYTqOKjjEO0VCTVAD8UN65S80
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Feb 10th, 2008 (7:27 pm)Rockyroad
Honda and Toyota are very quiet because they have a VERY big
Problem. GM has had the Volt concept for 30 years. They have had
many years to tinker with it. I will bet every componet in the system
is just about maxed out. If GM has been developing this system over
the years NOBODY is going to catch up to them anytime soon. JMHO
Take Care
Arch
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Feb 10th, 2008 (7:42 pm)Lyle,
Red White and Blue to you! This is how vehicles get developed! Commitment, plain and simple. Yours to this effort and this site is no exception.
Please keep up the good work and to GM….KUDOS.
As we’ve learned from the current political landscape, being a “front-runner” isn’t easy and often makes you a target. Keep your head down, your helmet pointed forward, and keep running. Breaking the “plane” is within site.
I’m hoping in less than 3 years to have an almost exact replica of what is on my mantle….. in my driveway. Only 32 times larger.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (8:11 pm)>> Honda and Toyota are very quiet because they have a VERY big
Problem.
Try to be realistic. Look at how much GM advertises vehicles that won’t be available for years still. In comparison, of course they make the competition seem quiet. It’s all hype when you consider the true measure: ACTUAL MARKET PENETRATION
Volt will earn merit based on sales.
Patience.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (8:25 pm)#8
A) You’d have been far better off quoting someone you met on the subway, than msnbc.
B) Ever heard of the Toyota TUNDRA? Now THAT’S a big honkin vehicle.
C) Would you mind just trollin somewhere else? Thanks and God Bless
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Feb 10th, 2008 (8:51 pm)Tag #15
Please don’t feed the trolls
.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (9:07 pm)Grizzly,
Sorry, but I find that if I don’t comment on the more inaine posts, my head explodes. That makes for a real mess (the explosion, not the head). Besides, “Evil flourishes when good men do nothing”
God Bless
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Feb 10th, 2008 (9:16 pm)I’m off topic but I have to say GM is in the biggest turn-around since Microsoft in 1995-96 came to the realization that the net browser and Netscape were of game changing proportions, maybe bigger. And if there are technical break-thru’s, well, there is no telling what the automotive biz be like in 20 years or so.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (9:29 pm)So the A123/Conti packs that were expected to be shipped to GM’s lab will indeed be shipped there at some as yet unidentified point in the future. Delay by any other name would smell as sweet.
It is pure speculation, but one would think at some point the delay would eliminate A123/Conti from the initial version of the Volt, or the Volt production will be slipped to allow full evaluation of both battery packs. Naturally the 64 dollar question is when is the event horizon, March 1?
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Feb 10th, 2008 (9:51 pm)“Try to be realistic. Look at how much GM advertises vehicles that won’t be available for years still. In comparison, of course they make the competition seem quiet. It’s all hype when you consider the true measure: ACTUAL MARKET PENETRATION”
John
You want to make any bets on this? The Volt is REAL. They have had many years to perfect it. I am going to bet that it is ready to come out and play.
Take Care
Arch
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Feb 10th, 2008 (9:53 pm)Van #21
I believe we’re a LONG way from “elimination”. Part of the development of this vehicle is that it is “parallel” in nature.
That means that aside from the final specs of the batt. there is no elimination up until final production. Not an easy task, but testing will continue for quite some time, and I’ll venture to guess that “thorough” it will be.
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Feb 10th, 2008 (11:05 pm)>> You want to make any bets on this? The Volt is REAL.
Huh? Of course Volt is real. Why the paranoia?
Whether the debut year will yield a disappointing production quantity (only 15,000) like other recent hybrids is the question.
Achieving mainstream status should be the focus once rollout begins. That means at least 60,000 for a few years or making the top-20 list.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (12:33 am)If you read the quote from Lyle’s post, I think the key word is “eventually”. As in the pack will eventually be tested in michigan. That doesn’t necessarily imply that it isn’t already being tested in Germany for other (or the same) criteria.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (1:14 am)I note world oil production was the same for 2007 as it was in 2006.
http://www.peopleandplanet.net/doc.php?id=3193 (Newsfile)
I maintain, that given it normally takes 20 years to turn over the entire vehicle fleet, anything with a battery in it will sell well in 2010. The Volt will sell and sell well. I predict that aftermarket conversions will happen to extend the range (Hymotion?). I just hope the biofuel plants can keep up with demand in the meantime. Go Lyle you’re doing a great job.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (7:26 am)“Whether the debut year will yield a disappointing production quantity (only 15,000) like other recent hybrids is the question.”
Perhaps GM should establish the MSRP and allow dealers to take advance orders. I would plunk down a deposit to make sure I get one. Advance orders would also help with the price gouging problem.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (10:15 am)#5 rockyroad
Except for the car itself, i’d love to see any of the jap carmakers come out with something on their own. Got to give it to them they are the most efficient copy-cats ever.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (10:23 am)Damn i fed the trolls, sorry guys. Monday morning.
Lyle feel free to delete this!
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Feb 11th, 2008 (3:47 pm)Whats a troll?
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Feb 11th, 2008 (10:19 pm)A123 cells performance will crush the LG chem.
When is the last time an out of focus multi product multi conglomerate beat an Amereica single product start up company?
What is the last performance cell LG chem made?
A123’s beat the pants off anything out there today.
They have been proven in the field real life use.
LG chem makes batts for cell phone batts. I don not see one performace lipo cell on the market today made by LG chem.
Where A123 is THE lipo performance King. Very doubtfull LG will be able to steal the performance crown jewel away from A123.
As a matter of fact A123 just bot Enerland!!!
Just another confrimation that A123 is going to keep their place on the perfomance podium.
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Feb 11th, 2008 (10:30 pm)Speaking of A123 batteries, they are used in the “Killacycle”. More info here:
http://www.killacycle.com/
God Bless,
Tagamet
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Feb 20th, 2008 (7:55 pm)#31
The fact that CPI has already delivered 3 maybe 4 packs, proves that they know what they are doing. A123 is late.
LG Chem is busy in Korea with Korean auto manufactures to get them on the road.
So Sorry A123.
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Feb 20th, 2008 (8:25 pm)JT,
Did you read this thread?
Tagamet
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