The Volt is designed to use new lithium-ion battery packs, which hold a charge longer than the nickel metal hydride batteries currently in use. One problem is that these are known to overheat and catch fire. They are however lighter and already in widespread use in consumer electronics such as laptops and cell phones.
There is much talk on the blog circuit about the battery required for the Volt not being available. Apparently an issue is the durability of Li-ion batteries, how long will they last? and cost, can a battery pack of this magnitude be manufactured fro a price that will be affordable. Certainly the rapid advancement of technology and the commensurate price point drops that occur along with it will definitely make this happen, the question is when?
