Live from Detroit!: GM's back in the battery biz

While most technology announcements at car shows are about as exciting as watching a NASCAR race, the General’s update on the status of its lithium-ion  battery technology adds more credibility to its electric car program compared to other automakers (that’s you Chrysler!)

First off, GM’s extended range system previously known as E-Flex, is now called Voltec—obviously as a tie-in to the first production vehicle, the Chevy Volt, due to go on sale late next year.

The big news today was GM’s confirmation of partnering with various governments, battery makers and universities to become the first major automaker to make lithium-ion battery packs in the U.S. starting later this year.

Crucial to the success of vehicles like the Volt, Saturn Vue Plug-In Hybrid and the Cadillac Converj concept that was rolled out here yesterday, GM will partner with LG Chem (as in LG, the Korean appliance maker) among others.