To be clear it is priced into the car for the drive-train warranty.

http://blogs.cars.com/kickingtires/2008/09/gm-exec-volt-ba.html


Longevity is the unanswered question," Lutz allowed, but he added that simulations have left him optimistic that a lithium-ion battery’s life expectancy will be competitive with nickel-metal hydride, the current standard in hybrids. As a backup, he said, "We're being conservative on battery life. For our cost calculations we're assuming each car will need a replacement during the warranty period." The Volt will have a 10-year powertrain warranty.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to kill a pack thats 9 years 11 months old without voiding the warranty? :D

I honestly don't think these packs will fail from mass cell failure it's probably going to be a solder joint or other electronics that causes issues if any. If that's the case GM will probably be replacing it with a refurbished unit. Then they will take your pack repair it and re-certify it and use it for another warranty claim.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to kill a pack thats 9 years 11 months old without voiding the warranty? :D10 years from now (or more correctly from 2010) the improved technology of the replacement batteries should result in them being a fraction of the original production unit's size, weight and cost. They may not even be Li-Ion by then. :D
WopOnTour

They should work to have the battery exchangeable like a flashlight just pop out and pop in and go, but they have to bring the cost down and that's probably a long way off