GM battery explosion: what we currently know,.

Published 13 April 2012

By Huw Evans

After Wednesday break story in which an explosion broke at General Motors' alternative energy Center, technical center is located on the grounds of the sprawling campus in Warren, me, there were a number of rumors floating around.

Although some sources the story said reporting "The automaker that the Chevy Volt builds", the concept of linking this explosion the NHTSA volt battery fire this year seems largely have been ignored, or to at least downplayed, though some industry analysts, that it mentioned his another opportunity for Volt could violently.

But what emerged are unconfirmed accounts that the experimental battery, which has been at the time of the explosion was produced by A123 systems. Although A123 Batteries for some GM current and future vehicles, in particular the forthcoming spark electric vehicle supplies, it has so far no official word that was as spokesman of the battery company A123, for example, that battery and GM declined comment about the battery make involved.

A123 has already been taken Karma for more evaluation from consumer reports (while the car flashed an error code a road test and locked in gear) under the microscope in recent months mainly due to the highly acclaimed "failure" of Fisker.

According to General Motors, the press release on Wednesday submitted, caused the explosion was by "Chemical gases from the battery cells, [the] where closed [test] Chamber were ignited and released." "The battery itself was intact." In the same statement, GM confirmed that the battery in question with the Chevrolet Volt yet other production car was connected. In fact, those who trusts said the programme, that the battery was developed for use in future electric vehicles have.

Lithium-ion batteries have become, popular car manufacturers increasingly because they several times the energy with lead acid batteries, so they far better suited to help larger objects as vehicles move an electric charge possible can save. The downside, however, is that the input power capacity have invested increases the risk of flammability, one reason why GM and others strongly happen in extreme lab tests, the odds, to minimize.

"People must understand that it is part of the development of new technologies at the borders". Stuff will go wrong, "Said Brett Smith of the Center for automotive research in Ann Arbor, Michigan West of Metro Detroit located." David Cole, chairman emeritus of car, added to the explosion of the battery; "If you have high energy density, whether it be in gasoline or diesel fuel or batteries, or whatever is, you will have problems." The day that the incident was occurred at the opening of TARDEC of new US Army ground power systems and energy laboratory complex, Cole, based an another Warren operation developed, similar goals AEC track, also for military applications.

As for the AEC itself was building as an important factor in the explosion of design why contained. The structure and in other areas the technical center continued as usual after the accident.

"If [AEC] was built, because it was so new, there are a lot of decisions made, because we would write the book", fire brigade of skip McAdams Warren said on Wednesday. "In a sense, I am satisfied with the work we have allowed in this building."

Business week, Reuters