#DAS09 As we reported yesterday, General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner did indeed announce this morning that GM will open both a battery production plant and a 31,000-square-foot laboratory on Michigan soil later in 2009. He thanked Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and key leaders in the state legislature for their support -- in the form of tax incentives.
Wagoner also announced that LG Chem will supply the lithium-ion battery cells for the Volt, and noted that GM will continue to expand the supplier base, potentially contracting with A123 Systems (as Green Car Advisor has reported) and Hitachi.
In addition, Wagoner says GM will continue to add to its staff of engineers and technicians working on electric cars and series hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt.
Finally, GM is partnering with the University of Michigan to establish a lithium-ion battery lab on the main campus in Ann Arbor. The automaker will also help develop a curriculum to train a future generation of battery-tech engineers.
There wasn't a Volt on stage, but there were Rick Wagoner, Bob Lutz, Peter Kim (CEO of LG Chem), various government officials and a lithium-ion battery pack. Only Lutz's iconic face stood out from the mob. -- Erin Riches, Senior Editor
frank908 says:
08:51 AM, 01/12/09
Well at least they'll be putting the word "ion" to better use then in the past.