The Volt is an electric vehicle that runs with batteries which are on an ordinary wall socket load. Thus it has a range of 65 kilometers. For longer distances, a gasoline or ethanol-powered generator charging. Two battery company, LG Chem and the MIT spinoff system of Watertown, were seen as major competitors in the race for the supply for the central component of the necessary battery packs, the individual battery cell. Hundreds of them have each other with wire and a control electronics are combined, a 16-kilowatt-hour battery pack arises.
Initially to be alone, cells from LG Chem to new battery packs are assembled. The job over the LG Chem subsidiary Compact Power from Michigan. Once a factory is finished, but now also wants GM to even cells battery packs, as it was in an announcement. Bob Kruse, GM executive director for the North American Engineering Operations Department, commented that the decision resembles the strategy in the engine. Again, we have core competence at GM. "It is of fundamental importance for our future business success."
The decision is also another sign of a strategic change within the company, its fleet, offering more and more to electrify. This begins with vehicles, the electric motors and batteries for additional power use relapses and ends with those who are completely electrically moved. "Design, development and production of advanced batteries have to be united at GM. We are expanding our capabilities and resources rapidly, so that we can pursue this direction," says GM CEO Rick Wagoner. We see this as a further demonstration that it is with his electric car manufacturing serious.
The group also wants to strengthen internal battery development by providing a nearly 3000-square-meter laboratory battery is created. It should be hundreds of engineers work. GM is also planning a collaboration with the University of Michigan, which has long been in the sector and young tummelt formed. The lack of qualified and experienced battery engineers in the United States already plaguing the start-ups like A123 Systems. The main development work is currently in Asia, therefore, what the electrification of the automobile industry in North America slow.
Although GM's own battery pack build, the company applies the necessary cells, initially by external suppliers. The reason: The development of a new electrode chemistry and the production of the cells themselves require expensive specialized equipment, such as Kruse admits. Experts have long predicted that the company LG Chem, instead of the start-up A123 Systems would turn - eventually LG Chem has a lot of experience. And yet: Although LG Chem, the battery packs of the first generation is, GM is already working on the second and third generation. There could be other manufacturers such as A123 to use, it says - the corresponding development contracts exist.
One of the main priorities in the new battery laboratory of the group lies in the life of the battery to test and, where appropriate, be extended. Lithium-ion batteries, as found in laptops and cell phones knows, lose their energy storage capacity within a few years. The volt battery should be designed so that they at least ten years durchhält and not during the average lifetime of the vehicle must be replaced. To achieve this goal, GM installed a large battery, which should offset any losses. To store the battery pack while potentially 16 kilowatt hours, but only 8 of which are really for the 65-kilometer radius is required. In the future the company hopes, yet with significantly less cells ends meet without having to reduce the range.
