The electric car isn't exactly within reach, but it's getting closer, slowly, but getting closer. GM, who seems to be taking baby steps with the project, has announced that it will keep the production of the lithium battery -- the main source of the cars power -- in SE Michigan. However they haven't decided exactly where. The Volt itself will be built in the small Detroit enclave of Hamtramck while the generators for the engine will be coming from Flint.
Maybe the battery production will be somewhere between the two.
Excerpt:
In a symbolic boost to the state's sagging economy, General Motors Corp.'s confirmed today it will launch battery production in southeast Michigan for its upcoming Chevrolet Volt extended range electric car.
As part of a multi-pronged, $1 billion advanced battery development strategy to bring the Volt to market by 2010, GM Chairman Rick Wagoner unveiled several initiatives today.
They include the selection of Korean company LG Chem as the supplier of lithium-ion battery cells. LG Chem's subsidiary, Compact Power, based in Troy, will be involved in the battery supply chain as will A123 Systems, Hitachi and Cobasys.
GM expects work on the Michigan battery plant will start later this year, with production starting in 2010. The automaker is expected to use an existing company facility and hopes to disclose the site by June, pending the approval of government incentives.
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