GM Chooses LG Chem and Compact Power to Produce Volt Battery Packs

According to a Reuters, sources close to the deal have reported that GM has chosen LG Chem and Troy, Michigan based Compact Power to produce the lithium-ion batter packs for the Chevrolet Volt.  Seems they are still in talks regarding the details, like warranty costs, but this still seems pretty legitimate.  The actual deal will not be reported until November, and it seems as if all companies involved are conveniently declining to comment.

The anonymous sources also had indicated that the CPI batteries were being used in most of the Volt tests, and seemed to be running fairly perfectly.  A GM spokesman let Reuters know there was no official decision yet, although a a spokesman for LG Chem said:

“We were informed that the results are due in November, but we didn’t get any official answer from GM yet. We hope for and expect a good result.”

We will keep you informed of any new developments.

Click the above image to view the Chevy Volt image gallery

We all know the Chevy Volt’s range, we have heard it time and time again, 40 miles on one charge.  Well, two companies out of Ohio are working on doubling that number to at least 80 miles per charge.  Coupled with an ethanol or traditional internal combustion engine this range could make the Volt an even better “green” solution for GM.

How do they plan on tackling such craziness? Carbon nanofibers.  For the geeks out there, Wikipedia defines carbon nanofibers as

Cylindric nanostructures with graphene layers arranged as stacked cones, cups or plates. Carbon nanofibers with graphene layers wrapped into perfect cylinders are called carbon nanotubes.

In a nutshell, tiny fibers that you can’t see, that make the Volt go vroom.  The companies Applied Sciences Inc. and Pyrograf products have received $500,000 in investment from GM and another $1 million from Ohio Third Frontier. Applied Sciences handles the development, and Pyrograf is going to handle the production.  The 400-pound Volt battery will hopefully contain this advanced nano-technology, and make our lives a little happier.

Oh and by the way, Pyrograf is already the worlds third largest producer of nanofiber materials, and produces 25% of the world’s current nanofiber production capacity.