Lutz on lithium

GENERAL Motors vice-chairman of global product development Bob Lutz remains committed to the company’s use of lithium batteries in its forthcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and has taken a shot at Toyota over its continued use and promotion of nickel-metal hydride as the better technology. “What we could be witnessing is the proud mother who looks at the platoon of marching soldiers and says, ‘Oh, look, everybody’s out of step except my boy.’ “It’s beginning to look like everybody’s out of step except for Toyota. I think they just have to find their way back,” Mr Lutz told US industry journal Automotive News last week. “The sooner we can demonstrate a 40-mile (64km) range in a lithium ion-powered car that people can actually get in and drive and experience for themselves, the faster we embarrass all of the naysayers.”