Comments on: GM has Tested and is Encouraged by A123/Conti Battery Pack

By: PiEaCe

PiEaCe — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:34:34 +0000

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

By: PJK

PJK — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 01:23:21 +0000

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.

By: Jon P.

Jon P. — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 16:51:37 +0000

"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!

By: kent beuchert

kent beuchert — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:53:47 +0000

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.

By: nasaman

nasaman — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:26:30 +0000

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.

By: nasaman

nasaman — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 13:38:48 +0000

REMINDER: GM to make a major announcement from Geneva at 8:45AM today! http://www.gmeurope.tv/webcast/index.php?amount=10&channel=webcast

By: pete k

pete k — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 08:44:31 +0000

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?

By: jscott1000

jscott1000 — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 07:18:23 +0000

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.

By: Grizzly

Grizzly — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:29:52 +0000

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?

By: Jim I

Jim I — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:07:43 +0000

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.