by Tony Posawatz, GM Vehicle Line Director[color=red]The following information is from GM’s website. It is provided, not as an advertisement for GM, but to demonstrate that the reality of Peak Oil is even dawning on corporate America.[/color]The extended-range electric vehicle is no longer just a rumor. We have put tremendous design and engineering resources in place to make this vehicle a reality.The Concept Chevy Volt, with its revolutionary E-Flex Propulsion System, will be different than any previous electric vehicle because it will use a lithium-ion battery with a variety of range-extending onboard power sources, including gas and, in some vehicles, E85 ethanol(1) to recharge the battery while driving.When it comes to plugging in, the Volt will be designed to use a common 110–volt household plug. For someone who drives less than 40 miles a day, Chevy Volt will use zero gasoline and produce zero emissions.(2) For longer trips, Chevy Volt’s range-extending power source kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion battery pack as required.Although we haven’t said exactly when the Chevy Volt will come to market, we’ve set our internal targets to complete the vehicle by the end of 2010. The specific date depends on the results of rigorous battery testing that’s going on right now.We place a great deal of importance on comprehensive testing of lithium-ion battery cells and packs (which are new to automotive applications) over time and in varying conditions…in both labs and vehicles. So we intend to extensively test the Volt battery to ensure it meets our quality, performance and safety expectations.We’ve placed a huge priority on getting the Volt to production as soon as possible. Typically, we would develop the battery and propulsion technology BEFORE we kicked off a production program. But the Volt is being developed with a strong sense of urgency.We have devoted significant resources to this project: Over 200 engineers and 50 designers are working on the Volt alone, and another 400 are working on related subsystems and electric components. That’s how important we think it is, and that’s how much stock we place in the future of extended-range electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt.