General Motors may be in the middle of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, but the Detroit-based automaker opened one of the most technologically advanced battery labs in the country earlier this week. Based in Warren, Michigan, the new plant intended to keep GM at the forefront of advanced battery technology.
The new Global Battery Systems Lab will help GM speed electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles to market, such as the upcoming Chevrolet Volt. The new battery lab will also help GM with the development of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles.
“The new global GM battery lab will benefit consumers across America by helping us advance the development of battery technology in the United States and put cleaner, more efficient vehicles on the road more quickly and affordably,” said Fritz Henderson, GM president and CEO. “Our new lab improves GM’s competitiveness by speeding the development of our hybrid, plug-in and extended-range electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt.”
The new lab covers 33,000 square feet – roughly four times larger than GM’s previous battery facility. More than 1,000 engineers will be employed by the Global Battery Systems Lab.
06/09, 2:59 PM
posted by:
KarLoveBoy88
This is very good media for the GM brand. I’m rather glad that they are trying to better the company by creating new innovations to build a better company. But i wonder how good they would be without Saturn green technology under their belt now?
06/09, 3:16 PM
posted by:
CADDY-V
I can’t wait to see how the media will spin this to make GM look bad.
06/09, 3:46 PM
posted by:
AxeHead
Don’t care about batteries….unless GM makes a battery powered 4X4 truck.
06/09, 3:56 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
By the looks of their new chairman he might need to be hooked up to a few of these.
06/09, 4:36 PM
posted by:
Fx NauGhtY
after gm use to be the largest auto company , which makes more sense they created the most pollution its about time they think the other way.
06/09, 5:11 PM
posted by:
IndSav
Good for you! not to mention that they are one the last coming to the market with this technoly
06/09, 5:53 PM
posted by:
carstuff
Ins Sav, do you know of any other OEM that even has anything close to this technology other than Toyota? All the other marques currently buy their batteries from battery companies. GM/Toyota are the only ones so far that have gone into battery development.
If you have data otherwise I would like to see it.
06/09, 5:59 PM
posted by:
leftwingagenda
how about this angle: “omg they’re taking jobs away from the battery research companies, this is yet another abuse of power and control by the federal government, i’d write more but i have to go out and buy the last box of shotgun shells at walmart before my guns are taken away, bye bye”
06/09, 6:19 PM
posted by:
injunraiv
Not to mention their Hydrogen Cell development… too bad GM only makes inneficient fuel hogs!
06/09, 7:05 PM
posted by:
Rational Thinker
left-winger: “stupid entrepenurship spirit! I thought we crushed it when Obama gave the union control of GM?”
06/09, 8:42 PM
posted by:
Mutant@DCX
That Volt needs an LS3.
06/09, 11:03 PM
posted by:
1c3d0g
CADDY-V: indeed. Frankly, people shouldn’t even give a damn what the stupid media says. Sadly, most couch potatoes aren’t that bright either to ignore the media’s rantings and research stuff on their own.