GM to Fire Up Battery Plant This Week, a First for U.S. Automakers

[jpak]

Source: earth2tech

http://earth2tech.com/2010/01/05/gm-to-fire-up-battery-plant-this-week-a-first-for-u-s-automakers/

We’re just two days away from a major milestone in the U.S. electric vehicle industry. When General Motors fires up its battery pack assembly plant in Brownstown Township, Mich. on January 7, the automaker says it will mark the first time a U.S. automaker has operated a battery pack factory here in the States.

GM sent out a press advisory this morning saying it will start production Thursday morning, and Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm as well as GM Chairman and CEO Ed Whitacre are scheduled to attend the launch.

As GM notes in its release, the event is scheduled to take place “exactly three years to the day” from when the automaker revealed the concept for the Chevy Volt. During that time — mostly in the year or so since federal stimulus funds started opening up for battery manufacturing — the race to secure financing and set up plants to manufacture plug-in vehicle batteries in the U.S. has heated up (we’ve mapped the green car battery buildout here).

More than 100 companies lined up for billions of dollars in federal grants and state incentive packages designed to help spur these domestic efforts. Firms based in China, Japan, and South Korea currently dominate the market for lithium-ion batteries, and the Obama administration has sought to help shift that balance. As demand grows beyond mobile devices and laptops for advanced battery technologies to increasing numbers of plug-in and hybrid vehicles, there’s an opportunity for players in the U.S. to either enter the game or expand their role.

<more>

Read more: http://earth2tech.com/2010/01/05/gm-to-fire-up-battery-plant-this-week-a-first-for-u-s-automakers/

[V_Byl]

1. Cool...

...hopefully this becomes more of a trend, although they need some import tariffs to help protect this budding 'earth friendly' industry...

Maybe this will knock Michigan's unemployment rate down below 16%?

[jpak]

2. GM has invested $700 million in the Volt in Michigan - and wil create hundreds of new high-$ jobs

Chevy Volt Investment in Detroit Now $700 Million

http://gas2.org/2009/12/08/chevy-volt-investment-in-detroit-now-700-million/

GM has announced that it is investing another $336 million to fix up its Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit, now bringing its total Detroit plant investment in building the Volt extended-range electric car to $700 million.

First they’ll clear out the cobwebby remains of the Cadillacs and the Buick Lucernes they used to build there, and then they’ll rework those assembly lines to start rolling out something more in line with the times.

The American people are not asking for so much. Just an electric car with four wheels that we can fit at least a few kids into, that can be fueled with electrons from the solar panels we’ll soon have on our garages.

The investment is spread out over eight facilities. It includes a new engine line at the Flint South engine plant and the Brownstown Township factory south of Detroit where they are building the battery pack assembly.

<more>

[WriteDown]

9. Yeah, but its not a Toyota or a Honda!

Who wants some American car. :eyes:

[JNelson6563]

3. This would be so awesome!

This could really be the kick off of a much needed turn-around for Michigan.

Julie

[FreakinDJ]

5. Only problem is China controls much of the mineral ore needed

Que - Nano-tube Technology

Unless the USA and EU invest in research of nanohole/nanotube technology and it's ability to store electrons, China will manipulate and stifle Electric Car Technology

[daleo]

4. This is good

I wonder if it would have happened without the federal stimulus funds? I think Obama deserves some credit for this.

[SpartanDem]

6. Excellent news

[harun]

7. Good news. Sooner people can buy electric cars the better.

[Major Hogwash]

8. Thank gawd - maybe there will be some new jobs for our Michigan friends

Man, it's about time!!

[Vidar]

10. Good for GM.