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GM has Tested and is Encouraged by A123/Conti Battery Pack
March 3rd, 2008 | Posted in: Battery
As those following things closely have noticed, GM received its first prototype Chevy Volt lithium-ion battery pack from A123/Continental on January 31st.
We have heard before, and I have witnessed firsthand that the LG Chem/CPI pack has performed up to GMs specs. GM has been a little quiet on details about the A123 pack. I have been told by GM sources that they are aware of how that pack is performing but wouldn’t not provide this author with any specifics.
Reuter’s was able to get the following nugget from an unnamed GM spokesperson about both the LG and A123 packs:
“We have tested both and are encouraged by both.”
Source (Reuters)
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Posted by: Lyle
22 Responses to “GM has Tested and is Encouraged by A123/Conti Battery Pack”
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March 3rd, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Not sure what to make of this. A123 not up to stds or even CPI? Is GM going mum from now on?
I’ve been asking for quite some time about this pack, and I can’t say this is necessarily encouraging. Just not sure what to make of this.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:23 pm
I think we should take it at face value: both packs are still being tested, neither has been eliminated. In the end, it may be that the choice will be done based on price and manufacturing capacity, and price also depends on capacity. Therefore the manufacturer that has the most production may well win the race. Of course, a 10000 unit run may well be a minor thing by then, but getting in with GM is still a big deal.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Apparently Conti is supplying a lithium-ion battery pack for Mercedes. My question - Is it using batteries from A123? I’ve seen no verification.
Obviously GM must be vague at this point about their battery performance. With some insisting lithium-ion batteries might catch fire (Toymota) and others that they won’t last, it’s best that GM keep any answers proprietary, and let the competition keep guessing.
It’s good to be encouraged by both battery packs, I think.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:39 pm
Sounds like all is on track to me.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:45 pm
Being encouraged is better than being discouraged.
March 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
Spin,
Too much encouraged can give fault hope or expected.
It didn’t says much. The battery infomation, that many users knows about from Continental and LG Chem is old news.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
It’s just that they lauded the CPI pack some months ago. Maybe they’ve learned to control what they leak, and control expectations.
Again, with superior chemistry at base, and a German pack maker, I expected some ovation. IDK, again just not sure what to make of this.
However, the VOLT will be produced.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:31 pm
A123 & Conti are they pulling ressoures ? We all know that A123 was sent a few (and IMO dozens of units) to GM, and the buzz is GM is happy with the A123 battery , technology is moving at a break neck pace with Benz lining up with Conti no small contract plus conti is based in Germany , I see a possible joint venture with these to company’s , GM would be a much larger contract and would be 100,000 of units a year which would need a company with online ability to deliver mass production on a short notice , that is no small feet. I don’t know the working relationship A123 system was with conti. or even if their is one . Any ideas ?
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:40 pm
#7 Grizzly I would have to agree with you , but I would have to say that in this world we might see a Volt that runs off the assembly line that has much more then a 40 mile range , what has true in 2006 will be much improved in 2009 or 2011.However, the VOLT will be produced.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Still no word as to whether or not the A123/Conti packs are being tested in Michigan side by side the LG packs. Basically we are pretty much in the dark until Lyle actually drives mules with both packs and compares AER at high speed.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I saw this same Reuters release earlier today & was pleased to learn GM is apparently fully satisfied with BOTH battery suppliers —because IMO they may need both to supply the quantity of batteries needed, even if the first production run is only 10,000 Volts.
March 3rd, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Ok I feel foolish Conti & A123 have been in this together from the get go. Sorry sometimes the Ky in me shines right through.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:07 am
GM does seem to be quite a bit less talkative about the A123 pack than they were with LG packs they received last fall.
It could be that they are that much better, in which case they do not want to ruin the suprise of increased AER.
It could be that they are that much worse, in which case they do not want to tip their reduced negotiating position to LG.
So I have to agree with Van #10. Lets wait and see what packs the mules have and how they perform.
March 4th, 2008 at 12:29 am
The problem is that GM as been bullish to boot so far. It’s almost like a crescendo on the A123 packs. Not good news in my book. Again the chemistry of A123 is definitely superior, but the batt is not a batt until the pack has been assembled. The "pack" is a Batt.
Then again if this process weren’t quote/unquote "transparent" what would we have to discuss? A rumor about an EV with a RE?
March 4th, 2008 at 2:18 am
In the battery world no news, is good news. If the batteries had caught on fire or failed in some other way, we might have heard about that by now.
March 4th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Come ON people! - it’s a 9 word ’statement’ from a 3rd party delivered by an unknown spokesperson - shall we ask the Gypsy tea-leaf reader what she thinks too?
March 4th, 2008 at 8:38 am
REMINDER:
GM to make a major announcement from Geneva at 8:45AM today!
http://www.gmeurope.tv/webcast/index.php?amount=10&channel=webcast
March 4th, 2008 at 9:26 am
The Geneva show webcast was ~25min & was recorded. The site above says it will be available for replay there "soon".
I’m not positive, because Wagoner didn’t describe it as our "major hybrid announcement", but I THINK his brief description of a simple hybrid sustem (resembling the BAS system, but with an electric motor with THREE times the power) was the big news. Everything else regarding hybrid technology in the webcast was old news (to me). A second announcement was that GM has contracted with Hitachi for Li-Ion batteries, so I would presume the new "super BAS" system may use Hitachi batteries. We may hear more details after the Geneva show opens in a couple days —or from the NY Auto show in ~2 1/2 weeks.
March 4th, 2008 at 10:53 am
I’d say the LG design is probably the winner if it comes down to manufacturing costs and ease of construction. On the othr hand, there will be more han just Volts off the E-Flex and I figre there will be enough business for both companies. Down the road, further battery developments may favor one’s design (or even someone else’s) as the only design to use, but for right now, the need for numbers may require both.
March 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am
"GM has contracted with Hitachi for Li-Ion batteries"
Hey Toyota, should of let the sleeping giant lay. Thanks for the wakeup call.
As far as the press confrence, wagoneer said they were going to announce a new hybrid concept every 3 months for the next 4 years. Nice! 1 Step closer to the End of Oil!
March 6th, 2008 at 8:23 pm
I wonder if GM is considering batteries as a option.. smaller ones to keep the cost down and larger ones for people who want longer EV range? And the option to add batteries after you buy the car. I rented a EV1 for 2 days in LA… I gave many rides to sceptics… every one was convinced in less than 10 seconds.
That first acceleration from 0 to EVgrin … nothing like it!
A first gear that never stops… no shifting…
Effortless acceleration… capturing energy while braking…
Once these EV’s get on the road… people will wonder why it didn’t happen sooner.
March 9th, 2008 at 9:34 pm
Pure speculation on my part, but GM may well be ready to use multiple suppliers if demand (which is a function of future conditions) warrants it.
It shouldn’t be any more complicated than the different engine options offered in any given model.
We will probably see newer ratings methods to "dumb down" the specs for the comsumer, so that we can choose the correct electrical options for our driving patterns and electric utility costs.
Definitely the hydrogen skatboard was the wrong project for Bush to get behind. I still think widely distributed cellulosic ethanol should take priority over hydrogen until its production methods get closer to a breakthrough in efficiency.
Cellulosic ethanol production is a sure thing as far as genetic breakthroughs are concerned. Once the yeast is perfected we can turn most of our garbage into fuel at refineris (stills) scattered near every landfill in the country.
Then, just get a new "chip" in your Volt and go totally renewable on pure ethanol.
Paul