A123 To Take Charge in the Car Industry

Lithium-ion batteries are quite the hot topic in the green car industry these days. Car companies can’t seem to line up fast enough to test all the options available for the cars of the future.

General Motors is testing lithium-ion technology from two companies in hopes to roll out the Chevrolet Volt by 2010 when it is also expected to produce the plug-in hybrid Saturn Vue. An estimated cost per lithium-ion battery is $10,000 that is provided by A123 Systems in Watertown, MA. GM is also utilizing the combined efforts of South Korea’s LG Chem and Compact Power from MI in the Chevy Volt test.

The lithium-ion battery is expected to get 40 miles on one charge but the use of the technology is not free of criticism. The most obvious criticism is the questionable lifespan. The industry wants guarantees of a battery that can offer 10-15 years to the consumer.

Industry experts are also concerned with safety. If lithium-ion battery-run cars roll out too soon and safety becomes an issue after the fact there could be serious ramifications. Lithium-ion batteries run hot and can overheat. They are also flammable if pierced and there is an unknown factor about what could happen in a crash.

It is indicated that five years of testing would be necessary prior to production involving this technology. Despite the naysayers and the negative reaction to the rush to production, it seems car manufacturers have their plans in place. GM is ready to go and want to begin mass production on plug-ins. They have confidence in A123’s cell.

Joining General Motors is Daimler in Germany. It’s anticipated that Daimler’s Mercedes S-Class luxury sedan will make its hybrid debut in 2009 powered by a lithium-ion battery and will produce a full hybrid M-Class later in the year.

While there is a high cost to the technology at this stage of the game, there is funding to produce and mass production is the only way to bring the cost down.