Once they've finished powering electric vehicles for
hundreds of thousands of miles, it may not be the end of the road for
automotive batteries, which researchers believe can provide continued benefits
for consumers, automakers and the environment.
Five used Chevrolet Volt batteries are at the heart of the
Department of Energy Oak Ridge National Laboratory's effort to determine the
feasibility of a community energy storage system that would put electricity
onto the grid. Over the next year, researchers from ORNL, General Motors and
the ABB Group will conduct studies and compile data using a first-of-its-kind
test platform officially commissioned today.