U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) already loan $1.6 million for Nissan to modify its Smyrna, Tennessee plant to build battery electric vehicles as well as the batteries to power them. The loan came from DOE’s Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Loan Program (ATVMLP), a $25 billion program authorized by Congress in 2007. Nissan has to be able to produce about 150,000 electric vehicles a year and 200,000 battery packs. Those vehicles will be ready at 2012!

Not just that, that same DOE ATVMLP loan had approved 8 other companies to do the conversion of USA vehicles into electric drive transportations. Those companies mentioned above are Tesla Motors, Maryland Science Center, Altcar, Maya Electric, Electrovaya, Exxon Mobil, IBM’s Big Green Innovations and IBM Almaden Institute.

Congratulation and Happy Green Driving!

A new research lab, called the GM/U-M Advanced Battery Coaltion for Drivetrains (or ABCD), will be headquartered at U-M. The ABCD was established with a  five-year, $5 million award. Engineers at the lab will be be working to resolve issues related to battery life and performance.

“Advanced battery technologies have quickly become a competitive advantage in the auto industry,” says Bob Kruse, executive director global vehicle engineering hybrids, electric vehicles and batteries, and GM’s co-director of the ABCD. “GM’s relationship with U-M gives us a tremendous opportunity to improve our understanding of advanced battery technologies. We aim to speed insertion of new technology, accelerate product design, and contribute to the cohort of automotive engineers and battery researchers who will shape our industry.”

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