University of Michigan, General Motors celebrate partnership to create electric car batteries

One of the worlds biggest universities is celebrating its relationship with one of the world’s largest corporations.

Excerpt:

The Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in electric vehicle that General Motors Corp. hopes will revive its sagging fortunes, will get a jolt from the University of Michigan.

On Friday, GM executives and university engineers gathered on North Campus to celebrate a new partnership that includes the creation of a laboratory in Ann Arbor where U-M faculty and students will conduct research on advanced batteries. The batteries are seen as key to the success of the electric vehicle.

Anticipated to open next month in space off Victors Way on the city's south side, the laboratory will be used to improve the durability and longevity of the lithium ion batteries. To meet consumers' expectations, the batteries will have to survive the daily stresses of driving and pounding from the elements, but they haven't been exhaustively tested, researchers say.

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