I have always been someone who believed that plastic and batteries are the most poisonous of all waste. Not just because they harm the planet, but they are used in such large number and with such frequency that they are always more dangerous than the nuclear arsenal in our possession that we never use. I suppose modern car batteries are not as bad as their old counterparts, but they could use a hell of a lot of technological advancement. But here at the Geneva Motor Show, GM seems uber-confident that it’s on the right track.
Officials from the General announced that the company has developed a second generation of lithium-ion batteries that will generate three times more power than the nickel-metal hydride (NIMH) batteries they’ll replace in all future GM hybrid research and production vehicles. The lithium-ion package is said to use up to 24 percent less space, weigh 40 percent less and deliver one-third more power than those NIMH batteries. So basically it will create a lot less pollution and will help increase the mileage on your card.
GM executives said here that they’ll eventually be in a position to manufacture well over 100,000 of the next-generation packs—per year—beginning in 2010. GM expects lithium-ion packs to offer boosts in fuel economy of up to 15-20 percent, depending on a vehicle’s size and shape, implementing the hybrid system currently offered in its Saturn Vue Green Line, Saturn Aura Green Line and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid vehicles. You can soon find these if you look inside one of your newly bought hybrids. I think it is a great step taken by GM and I do think plenty of additional research needs to be put in to it to make sure we continue in the right direction.
