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G.M. Opens Its Own Battery Research Laboratory

Posted by timothy on from the under-pressure dept.

Al writes "Bankrupt automaker G.M. has taken a significant step towards reinventing itself by opening a battery laboratory in Michigan on a site that once churned out internal combustion engines. The new facility lets G.M. engineers simulate all kinds of conditions to determine how long batteries will last once they're inside its vehicles. Battery packs are charged and discharged while being subjected to high and low temperatures as well as extremes of humidity. Engineers can also simulate different altitudes by placing the packs in barometric chambers. The facility has also been designed so that engineers located in New York and Germany and at the University of Michigan can perform experiments remotely. Despite its financial troubles, G.M. has committed to producing the Volt and is already working on second- and third-generation battery technology at the new lab."

8 of 173 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I never thought... by SEWilco · · Score: 4, Funny

    So you didn't expect the battery inquisition?

  2. I'm not impressed...no need for research... by PalmKiller · · Score: 4, Funny

    China makes lithium batteries that can release large amounts of energy all at once...the fireballs are spectacular.

    1. Re:I'm not impressed...no need for research... by Chris+Burke · · Score: 2, Funny

      Awesome! Then all we need to do is devise a system whereby these batteries are loaded into a cylinder, compressed, exploded, and the force of the explosion used to drive the cylinder piston and perform the other stages of the process in the other cylinders. Then we could build a bunch of battery stations where you go to fill up your batter tank with fresh batteries. The earth is saved!

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      The enemies of Democracy are
  3. Re:Back to step 1. by Chabo · · Score: 2, Funny

    A question for the conspiracy theory crowd:
    If the was so much demand for an electric car back in the 90's

    [starts singing]
    Who keeps back the electric car? Who makes Steve Guttenberg a star? We do! We do!

    --
    Convert FLACs to a portable format with FlacSquisher
  4. Government Motors is investing in itself! by elkto · · Score: 2, Funny

    Government Motors is investing in itself
    I wonder if they are eligible for any tax credits.

  5. Our last $800 billion bought us... by Burning1 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Very true... Our last $800 billion only bought us a bunch of dead Arabs.

  6. Re:I never thought... by Rufty · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it was a shock.

    --
    Red to red, black to black. Switch it on, but stand well back.
  7. Re:I don't like the odds by geekoid · · Score: 2, Funny

    You do know financial institution are starting to pay that back, right? Do you understand that until they do, they fall under TARP rules; which they hate?

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect