Comments on: Exclusive: GM has Received Second Continental/A123 Chevy Volt Prototype Battery Pack in Michigan

By: Van

Van — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:19:32 +0000

Generally you can do lots of stuff in parallel, but usually you cannot go into production until the prototype testing tells you how to finalize the design for production.

By: Dwayne

Dwayne — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:01:05 +0000

The thing I would like to see at this point is a purchase order from GM for a 1000 units. This would give the the company enough incentive to start creating a mass production capability now.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:48:37 +0000

#16, It will go something like this but on a larger scale with more robots:How to make Lithium Polymer Batteries for Electric Carhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqywKcJ0J2M

By: Thompsonite

Thompsonite — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:47:28 +0000

ZAP-X is now taking reservations ($25,000) for an all electric crossover car that has a 350 mile range with huge power. See: http://www.greenoptimistic.com/index.php/2008/03/06/zap-x-crossover-electric-car-more-power-than-you-need/ Unfortunately the pricetag is $60,000 which will put it out of most people's budget. The car is designed by Lotus and has more power and speed then anyone really needs.

By: Tim

Tim — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 15:31:52 +0000

GM, Toyota Doubtful on Fuel Cells' Mass Use "If we get lithium-ion to 300 miles, then you need to ask yourself, Why do you need fuel cells?" Mr. Lutz told reporters. He added that fuel-cell vehicles are still far too expensive to be considered for the mass market. "We are nowhere [near] where we need to be on the costs curve," he said. To read the complete article: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120468405514712501.html

By: Neutron Flux

Neutron Flux — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:58:55 +0000

I concur with Jack #11, until a contract is made and there is no market for its design, so why invest millions into tooling up & developing the MFG process for a product with out a market. My gut feeling is every one of these early batteries is hand built taking an inordinant amount of time to assemble. There is no automation whatsoever at this stage in the game. If and when the contract is signed with the final battery design approved is when we will see who can mass produce & deliver these. Remember Lithium Ion batteries with these specs have never been mass produced before. That is why there are so few of them available. Until either company develops a cost effective quality process to assemble these within budget we will not have a Volt. Having hand fabricated batteries only proves concept which is a long way from mass producing. As I said before I worked in Aerospace where we built an Anti radiation missle, the best in the world but we could not get the MFG process down the prototypes were hand built like these batteries. They worked great but we could not deliver in quantity. I am keeping my hopes tempered until I see more than hand built batteries within cost.

By: Jeff J

Jeff J — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:57:04 +0000

#3 Texas Its true that GM is testing 3 batteries , but I have to believe that A123/Conti have volumes of test data and have pushed there Batteries to the limit already. Only the people at the testing unit , can really know what going on. Its amazing the speed of the developments that we are witnessing .

By: Jim I

Jim I — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:44:53 +0000

It looks like even President Bush is beginning to see the light.

At a news conference yesterday, he said "We’ve got to get off oil. And the reason why is, first, oil is – dependency on oil presents a real challenge to our economy."

GM should take that and make it a part of their ads for the Volt….

By: Grizzly

Grizzly — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:42:51 +0000

Nasaman #10

I agree. Certainly good news if they now OWN their own facilities. I’d have preferred that the plant was in Mexico,
but again the fact that they own their own production means
is huge.

Jack #11

Very good point, and I hope you’re right. If so the parallel development gamble will have payed off big time.

By: Van

Van — Thu, 06 Mar 2008 14:26:54 +0000

Finally the shoe dropped, great news, and I expect in the nick of time. If the lab tests take about 3 months, mule testing in June still looks feasible to me. And maybe a one or two latter, perhaps Lyle can drive a mule with a A123/Conti pack! That will be a day! Go Volt