Much Needed Infrastructure Before Chevy Volt Goes National

While we keep hearing about all the functionality of the Volt, Chevrolet’s first plug-in hybrid electric car, there’s still a way to go before it hit’s the road in mass production.

The Volt is designed to drive up to 40 miles on a single electric charge without the use of gasoline. “When the driver of a Volt needs to go farther, the car’s engine-generator kicks in to produce enough electricity to power it for another 300 miles” before needing to refuel or stop to recharge the battery, explained Robert A. Lutz, General Motors vice chairman of global product development, at last week’s Los Angles Auto Show.

Where work still needs to be done is in the area of real-world battery charging infrastructure. The Volt has been designed with the idea that it can recharge anywhere, so GM is partnering with a number of utilities to install over 500 Pacific Coast charging stations for public use.

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New Lithium Ion Battery Facility to Bring Hundreds of Jobs to Connecticut

First Global Hawk Block 20 flight with a Yardney lithium ion battery used for both emergency power in a loss of power event, as well as main power for specific on board systems. The photo is courtesy of Yardney Technical Products, Inc.

PAWCATUCK, Conn.-Joining together to expand their presence in the United States electric auto industry, Coda Automotive and Yardney Technical Products, Inc. have entered into a joint venture to form Coda Battery Systems LLC, which will design, manufacture, and sell automotive-grade lithium ion battery power systems.

The manufacturing facility will be in Enfield, Conn., with funding coming in part from a stimulus grant through the U.S. Department of Energy. The Coda Battery facility expects to employee about 600 U.S. workers in manufacturing positions.

“This Connecticut factory and the hundreds of new manufacturing jobs it will create are only the beginning of our long term plans,” said Kevin Czinger, president and chief executive officer of newly formed Coda Automotive, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based manufacturer and distributor of all-electric, highway capable vehicles.

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Auto Battery Cell Alliance Works On Proposal for Federal Investment in Research and Development

The movement of these lithium ions happens at a fairly high voltage, so each cell produces 3.7 volts. This is much higher than the 1.5 volts typical of a normal AA alkaline cell that you buy at the supermarket and helps make lithium-ion batteries more compact in small devices like cell phones. Graphic provided by HowStuffWorks.com

CHICAGO - The National Alliance for Advanced Transportation Battery Cell Manufacture, formed last month, is working on a proposal to the federal government for investment as part of the development of one or more manufacturing and prototype development centers across the United States, which will be shared by the Alliance members.

“The Alliance will develop and operate a state-of-the-art manufacturing foundry that will permit any U.S.-based battery companies to design, test, and manufacture proprietary and semi-proprietary large format lithium-ion battery cells that power next generation motor vehicles,” said Carlos Helou, president of Grep International, a Darien, Ill.-based consulting firm in the energy arena, and an advisor to the Alliance.

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