For the past several years, authors in both the popular and technical press have speculated about the possibility that a significant portion of personal transportation in the future will be electric-powered.
Batteries are in low-volume production now.
Process development and cost reduction work are paving the way to begin operating a high-volume manufacturing facility in the near future. The first Ovonic NiMH batteries were introduced to the marketplace for portable electronics applications in the late 1980s. Now NiMH technology is widely used in laptop computers, cellular telephones, video cameras and other popular consumer electronics devices. In 1993, Ovonic Battery delivered its first EV battery packs for test and evaluation by vehicle manufacturers. Recognizing the significant of NiMH technology and the important task of developing production capability for EVs, General Motors Corporation and Ovonic Battery formed a manufacturing joint venture in 1994.