• News
  • Forum
  • Photos
  • Tip Us
  • Subscribe

GM Authority

  • Chevrolet
  • Buick
  • GMC
  • Cadillac
  • Opel
  • Holden
  • OnStar
  • Reviews
  • Rumors
  • Opinions
  • Dealer News
  • Racing
  • Video

Followup: GM Battery Lab Closed Indefinitely, Prototype Battery Cells Supplied By A123 Systems

9
  • by Manoli Katakis
  • — Apr 12, 2012
2013 Chevrolet E Spark Graphic

Yesterday morning, the battery lab located at GM’s Warren Technical Center suffered an explosion great enough to hospitalize a worker, supposedly for non-life threatening injuries, thankfully. But the incident also sparked curiosity. What was the battery for? How did it explode and why? Who’s the supplier? And what will become of the battery lab?

Here’s the followup:

Starting with the last question, the battery lab has been shut down indefinitely due to the extensive damage from the big kabosh, though all adjacent facilities will operate as if it never happened. It’s also been reported that the injured employee will spend another day in the hospital. And as mentioned in the title, the battery featured prototype cells supplied by A123 Systems — the same company that will supply the battery cells for the upcoming Cadillac ELR and Chevrolet Spark EV. According to The Detroit News, “Chemical gases from the battery cells were released and ignited in the enclosed chamber. The battery itself was intact.” This particular battery was for the Spark EV, according to Fox News.

We imagine GM and A123 will be doing everything to make the next batch of battery prototypes more stable than before.

Google+
Share

— Manoli Katakis

Manny is the lead GM Authority writer and provides on-site coverage of GM events as well as road tests of GM's new products.

  • Previous story GM Recalling 50,000 Chevy, Buick, GMC Crossovers
  • Next story Almost Half Of Early Buick Verano Buyers Switched From A Non-GM Brand

You Might Also Like

  • IndyCar Photo Chevrolet Files “Turbo-Gate” Protest, IndyCar To Host Hearing Thursday, April 26
  • Cruze repair work Here’s How A Taken-Apart Chevy Cruze Looks
  • GM Negotiates With Investment Banks, Hardballs To Sell Cars To Underwriters! GM Negotiates With Investment Banks, Hardballs To Sell Cars To Underwriters!
  • 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ Minor Changes Abound For 2013 Chevy Tahoe: RPO Central

9 Comments

  1. carzrmylife says:
    April 12, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Taking into consideration the agenda-driven and innaccurate “reporting” Fox News is doing about the Volt I think I will get my news on this incident from a more accurate and politically neutral source, like Al Jazeera.

    Reply
    • TonyB says:
      April 12, 2012 at 3:31 pm

      Amen to that or PBS’s BBC World New…….Damn Shame when you have to look at Foreign News to get Real News for America!!!!

      Reply
    • Alex Luft says:
      April 12, 2012 at 4:35 pm

      How about GM Authority :)

      Reply
      • carzrmylife says:
        April 12, 2012 at 4:36 pm

        Why, of course. But you quoted Fox so……

        Reply
        • Manoli Katakis says:
          April 12, 2012 at 5:09 pm

          It’s the only lead available until further notice. And if it’s an A123-sourced battery, it’s not hard to believe, even if we shake our heads at 99% of the content Fox News comes up with.

          Reply
      • Grawdaddy says:
        April 12, 2012 at 4:52 pm

        Do you need a balding, fat, high strung, high cholesterol, high blood pressure commentator who’s never heard of lunar tidal movement?

        Reply
  2. PaulC says:
    April 13, 2012 at 7:45 am

    This shouldn’t make the news! That’s why they have a lab. To test and to put things into extreme conditions so that it’s safe when it makes it to production. If this battery incident happened out in the real world, whole different story.

    Reply
  3. Yabadabadoo says:
    April 13, 2012 at 9:36 am

    Tony… Love you comment BBC World News is the only news outlet I get my news from, all others are sensationalized garbage…

    Reply
  4. Eco_Turbo says:
    April 14, 2012 at 10:12 am

    Put a tank full of gasoline in an enclosed space and add a source of ignition, and see what happens.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. You can also subscribe without commenting.


  • Login or Register

    Log In
    Register Lost Password
  • GM Authority Newsletter

    Get the latest GM News delivered to your inbox daily.
    * = required field
  • Sponsors

  • Fresh Off The Press

    • Recent Posts
    • Most Popular
    • Comments
    • 2014-Chevrolet-SparkEV-020-mediumChevy Spark EV To Start At $27,495May 23, 2013
    • 2013 Cadillac XTS cabin profileHow Cadillac Designers Selected Interior Materials For The XTSMay 23, 2013
    • 2014 Chevrolet Cruze TD 11We’re Driving The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Today, What Do You Want To Know?May 23, 2013
    • Holden VF Commodore productionWatch Along As VF Commodore Is Assembled: VideoMay 22, 2013
    • 2014 Corvette Stingray Indy500 Pace CarSan Francisco 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh To Pace Indy500 In 2014 Corvette StingrayMay 22, 2013
    • Camaro ZL1 Ad Break MRCAd Break: Camaro ZL1 Magnetic Ride ControlMay 22, 2013
    • Chevrolet-Mi-Ray-ConceptHow Might GM Bring An Affordable Small RWD Chevrolet To Life?May 8, 2013
    • 2013 Chevy Volt - CaliforniaCommunity Question: Should GM Discontinue The Chevrolet Volt?May 16, 2013
    • 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray C7 052014 Corvette Stingray Curb Weight Estimated To Be 3,298 PoundsApril 27, 2013
    • 2012 White Diamond Buick Verano Cranbrook KingswoodCommunity Question: Should Buick Offer A Verano GS?May 21, 2013
    • GM 4.3 Liter V6 Ecotec3Here’s How GM’s All-New 4.3L EcoTec3 V6 Stacks Up To The CompetitionMay 6, 2013
    • Fifth Gear - Hot Hatch Death MatchVideo: Which Hatch Wins Fifth Gear’s Hot Hatch Death Match?April 28, 2013
    • Grawdaddy on:Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Named 2013 All-Star By Automobile Magazine
    • V8 Jon on:We’re Driving The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Today, What Do You Want To Know?
    • nurse practitioner online programs on:2014 Corvette Stingray Curb Weight Estimated To Be 3,298 Pounds
    • Baconator on:Mad Genius Creates LS-Based V12 Engine
    • Alex Luft on:Watch Along As VF Commodore Is Assembled: Video
    • John on:We’re Driving The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Today, What Do You Want To Know?
  • Sponsors

  • Recent Forum Topics

    • Cracked dashboard on 2010 Diamond Edition Suburban
    • bluetooth won't default to next phone
    • 2014 Z28 Transmission
    • Dayton, Ohio GM plants
    • 2014 Equinox info, details
    • Intellilink – blue tooth device won’t delete
    • 2012 equinox syncing contacts from iphone 4
    • recent motor trend article of the ATLAS concept
    • Sierra Production
    • tires terrain denali
  • Sponsors


  • Galleries

    Chevrolet Spark - Woody Wagon2011 Holden Spark2012 Opel Astra GTC2012 Chevrolet Sonic ConceptErik\'s Camaro4th Generation Camaro Turned Reventon2011 Chevrolet Niva2014 Chevrolet Camaro Z282010 Chevrolet Caprice PPV
  • The Archives

  • Home
  • Business
  • Suppliers
  • A 123 Systems
  • Followup: GM Battery Lab Closed Indefinitely, Prototype Battery Cells Supplied By A123 Systems
  • Fresh Off The Press

    • Recent Posts
    • Most Popular
    • Comments
    • 2014-Chevrolet-SparkEV-020-mediumChevy Spark EV To Start At $27,495May 23, 2013
    • 2013 Cadillac XTS cabin profileHow Cadillac Designers Selected Interior Materials For The XTSMay 23, 2013
    • 2014 Chevrolet Cruze TD 11We’re Driving The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Today, What Do You Want To Know?May 23, 2013
    • Holden VF Commodore productionWatch Along As VF Commodore Is Assembled: VideoMay 22, 2013
    • Pontiac G8 G3Poll: Should GM Bring Back Pontiac?March 28, 2012
    • Chevrolet logo on Silverado HDShould Chevrolet Replace Holden In Australia, New Zealand?May 2, 2011
    • 2014 Corvette ZR1 SideThe 2014 C7 Corvette: What We KnowNovember 14, 2011
    • GM Authority Garage - 2010 Chevrolet Equinox 5RPO Central: 2012 Chevrolet Equinox With Desirable ChangesAugust 6, 2011
    • Grawdaddy on:Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Named 2013 All-Star By Automobile Magazine
    • V8 Jon on:We’re Driving The 2014 Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Today, What Do You Want To Know?
    • nurse practitioner online programs on:2014 Corvette Stingray Curb Weight Estimated To Be 3,298 Pounds
    • Baconator on:Mad Genius Creates LS-Based V12 Engine
  • ABOUT GM AUTHORITY

    GM Authority is a must-read for GM news, GM rumors, GM reviews, and information about General Motors cars and trucks.

    Join others in discussing The General in our GM Forums and browse photos of GM vehicles in our GM pictures gallery.

    Also, please note that GM Authority is an independent publication and is not sponsored, owned, or in any other way condoned by General Motors Company, its brands, subsidiaries, or partners.
  • Search

  • Get Social

    Follow @gmauthority
  • Login or Register

    Log In
    Register Lost Password
  • News
  • Forum
  • Photos
  • Videos
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Tip Us

© COPYRIGHT 2013 AUTO AUTHORITY, LLC. POWERED BY LSX V8 ENGINES, LOVE & REVERENCE.