Akerson: GM may have electric-car battery breakthrough within 4 years

Back in January 2011, GM invested $7 million in Newark, California based Envia Systems to provide the Detroit automaker’s battery engineering team with access to advanced lithium-ion technology. The investment was taken on to ensure that GM has access to higher cell energy density at a lower cost.

Read ourĀ review on the Chevrolet Volt.

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Speaking to employees today, GM’s CEO Dan Akerson said that Envia has made some progress that could easily power an electric vehicle for 100 to 200 miles on single charge. The battery could make it to cars within the next 4 years, Akerson said.

“I think we’ve got better than a 50-50 chance,” Akerson said, “to develop a car that will go to 200 miles on a charge. That would be a game changer.”

By now you’re probably thinking ‘Big deal, Tesla Motors’ Model S can go 300 miles on a single charge’ – but there’s a catch. Tesla Motors battery is very large, heavy and can cost more than twice as the components used in the Volt.

Envia’s battery is supposed to be compact, cheaper and lighter. Either way, we’ll believe it when we see it.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Free Press