General Motors Co. will reveal a plan for secondary use of the
costly batteries installed in Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid cars at
a conference next week, a move that could generate interest in a
redesigned version of the car set to go on sale later this
year.
The Detroit auto maker has been building the $34,000 Volt since
2010 that uses two propulsion systems. A rechargeable lithium-ion
battery is the primary energy provider for the small car, and a
gasoline engine serves as a backup power supply in case the battery
runs out.
Auto makers, including GM, have contended that these batteries
can be used for other power needs after the several years during
which they have been used in an automobile. GM's plans for how
these batteries can be reused will be outlined June 16 at a battery
conference near Detroit.
The Chevy Volt that went on sale in 2010 has a battery range
allowing for 38 miles worth of driving. The second-generation of
the vehicle will be able to achieve 50 miles, according to GM.
The materials in lithium-ion cells aren't valuable enough to
merit the cost of recycling in most cases, but the cells generally
have energy storage capacity that is good enough for nonautomotive
applications after their useful life in a vehicle is over.
Industry analysts say the batteries cost between $300 to $500
per kilowatt-hour, depending on the size of the battery. The
current Volt has a 17 kwh battery, which implies a cost of $5,100
to $8,500. Most car makers have an eight-year warranty on the
battery, though it could last longer.
GM faces heavy competition in the small U.S. electric car
market, including Nissan Motor Co. and Tesla Motors Inc. Tesla and
Daimler AG have announced plans to enter the stationary battery
market, which is different than what GM will announce.
A GM spokesman declined to outline specific details of GM's
upcoming announcement.
The launch of the Volt was met with enthusiasm, but sales have
fizzled recently amid low gasoline prices. GM will launch a fully
electric vehicle with a 200-mile driving range in 2017 called the
Chevrolet Bolt.
Write to John D. Stoll at john.stoll@wsj.com
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