GM to expand battery lab outside of Detroit

subscribe

General Motors Co. said it will spend $8 million to double the size of its suburban Detroit lab that engineers and tests electric vehicle batteries.

GM said the expansion of the facility in Warren, Mich., wont create any new jobs, but will allow the automaker to centralize its battery testing and do tests inhouse rather than with outside contractors.

The expansion will also allow GM to do safety and abuse tests, manufacturing engineering, charger development and heat tests at the lab, spokesman Brian Corbett said. In addition, areas in the lab that were previously used for engine testing will be renovated for battery development.

This addition will benefit consumers by helping us put cleaner, more efficient vehicles, including the Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle with extended range, on the road more quickly, GM executive Micky Bly said in a statement.

Construction will start this month and the expanded lab is set to open this summer, GM said. About 1,000 engineers now work on electric vehicle development at GM, and the company has 40 to 50 openings for more.

The expansion comes as GM and other automakers start selling electric vehicles to the public. GM plans to begin selling the Chevrolet Volt in December, while other automakers including Nissan Motor Co. plan to sell electric cars around the same time.

Related News

In North Carolina, unpaid electric and water bills are driving families and cities to the financial brink

RALEIGH - As many as 1 million families in North Carolina have fallen behind on their electric, water and sewage bills, threatening residents and their cities with severe financial hardship unless federal lawmakers act to approve more emergency aid.

The trouble stems from the widespread economic havoc wrought by the coronavirus, which has left millions of workers out of a job and struggling to cover their monthly costs. Together, they’ve been late or missed a total of $218 million in utility payments between April 1 and the end of June, according to data released recently by the state, nearly double the…

READ MORE
kenya nuclear program

Kenya on Course for $5 Billion Nuclear Plant to Power Industry

READ MORE

montreal ev race

The City of Vancouver is hosting an ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race next year, organizers have announced

READ MORE

EIA expects solar and wind to be larger sources of U.S. electricity generation this summer

READ MORE

first-reacto-installed-at-the-uk-latest-nuclear-power-station

First Reactor Installed at the UK’s Latest Nuclear Power Station

READ MORE