General Motors will provide an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on the battery and electric drive system in the Chevrolet Volt, a three-year boost from its standard warranty, to ease concerns about battery longevity.
The warranty will be transferable at no cost to other vehicle owners and cover all 161 battery components, GM said.
In addition, the warranty also includes the battery’s thermal management system, charging system and electric-drive components.
GM already offers a 100,000 mile, 5 year warranty on the engines and transmissions in all of its other models, so this warranty adds a small degree of greater protection for the Volt’s battery pack and related parts.
The Volt’s gasoline engine, which generates electricity should a driver want to travel beyond 40 miles after charging, will be covered by the standard 5-year, 100,000 mile warranty.
The Chevrolet Volt will go on sale later this year in California, Washington, D.C., Austin, Texas, and around New York City. Additional Volts will go on sale next year in Michigan, New Jersey, Connecticut and the rest of New York and Texas.
GM plans to produce 10,000 Volts by the end of the 2011 calendar year and an additional 30,000 in 2012.
The automaker has provided some additional specifications on the battery pack. Key battery features include:
– Thermal management for durability and reliability: The Volt is the only mass-market electric vehicle with a battery that can be warmed or cooled. The battery is designed to provide reliable operation, when plugged in, at temperatures as low as -13 degrees Fahrenheit (-25 C) and as high as 122 degrees Fahrenheit (+50 C). In cold weather, the battery will be preheated during charging to provide full power capability. In hot weather – the most challenging environment for a battery – the Volt’s battery can be chilled during charging. The Volt’s liquid thermal management system can also be powered during driving by the battery or engine/generator.
– Diagnostics for safety and performance: The Volt’s battery management system continuously monitors the battery real-time for optimum operations. More than 500 diagnostics run at 10 times per second, keeping track of the Volt’s battery pack; 85 percent of the diagnostics ensure the battery pack is operating safely, while the remaining 15 percent keep track of battery performance and life.
– Cell design and chemistry for performance and efficiency: GM’s selection of a prismatic cell design and LG Chem’s manganese spinel lithium-ion chemistry is designed to provide long life and high power output, with a properly maintained temperature. This enables better vehicle acceleration and increased regenerative braking capability for improved vehicle efficiency.
– Energy management for durability: Fully charging or fully depleting a battery shortens its life. The Volt’s energy management system never fully charges or depletes the battery. The Volt’s battery has top and bottom “buffer zones” to help ensure long life.
