GM and Johnson Controls say the government must help develop next-gen batteries

[1931Chevy]

http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/10...p-develop-nex/
General Motor's director of hybrid energy storage systems, Denise Gray (pictured), and Mary Ann Wright, vice president and general manager of hybrid battery systems at Johnson Controls Inc., told a congressional panel today that U.S. auto suppliers need the federal government's help to create the high-tech future-car batteries we're all waiting for. Those lithium ion and nanotech batteries aren't going to create themselves, you know.

Automotive News (subs req'd) is reporting that the two experts spoke at a subcommittee of the House Science and Technology Committee hearing. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Texas, chairman of the subcommittee on energy and environment, said that advanced battery legislation is being drafted by committee leaders

[drew630]

So is this a bad sign for the Volt? I don't see the government stepping in anytime soon.

[goblue]

Originally Posted by drew630

So is this a bad sign for the Volt? I don't see the government stepping in anytime soon.

No, they mean future batteries beyond the Volt - the kind that make a Tahoe go for 100 miles on a charge. That sort of thing. GM's batteries for the VOLT are in validation stage - or so I hear.

[ronald mcretard]

Originally Posted by goblue

No, they mean future batteries beyond the Volt - the kind that make a Tahoe go for 100 miles on a charge. That sort of thing. GM's batteries for the VOLT are in validation stage - or so I hear.

Thats true, the battey cells already exist (they are being used in power tools right now) - the only step left is to make an affordable pack out of them for automotive use. government funds could certainly help, but they aren't needed for the Volt.