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GM to Hire 1,000 for Future EV Development

The first production version model of the Chevrolet Volt rolled off the assembly lines today, but the American manufacturer is already thinking about the future and a possible successor for the plug-in hybrid.

To tackle the research efforts for the development of electric vehicles (like hybrids and electric vehicles with extended-range capability), the carmaker announced it will hire 1,000 engineers at its facilities in Michigan over the next two years.

All the new employees will be focusing on further developing or creating technologies related to batteries, electric motors and power controls for future EVs. The main advantage the car manufacturer hopes to gain is having these technologies developed in house, a fact which would allow it to control both cost and quality.

 “GM is going to lead the industry in the adoption of various vehicle electrification technologies, whether its electric vehicles with extended-range capability, like the Chevrolet Volt, or the recently introduced eAssist technology that will debut on the 2012 Buick LaCrosse,”
said GM's CEO Dan Akerson.

“We want to give our customers energy choices other than petroleum and to make the automobile part of the solution when it comes to the environment."

Tied to the GM announcement, suppliers LG Chem, utility company DTE Energy and the University of Michigan and Wayne State University have also announced they will be expanding the employment scheme to support the development of EV related technologies.

All the efforts of the private sector to give birth to a brave new and cleaner world are supported by the State of Michigan.
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About the author: Daniel Patrascu
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Daniel loves writing (or so he claims), and he uses this skill to offer readers a "behind the scenes" look at the automotive industry. He also enjoys talking about space exploration and robots, because in his view the only way forward for humanity is away from this planet, in metal bodies.
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