GM to Use New Battery in Electric Cars

General Motors Corp. will begin using batteries that nearly double the driving range of electric pickups between charges. Utilities in Detroit, Atlanta and Los Angeles will each test an electric pickup that has a nickel-metal hydride battery, GM spokesman Dick Thompson said. The batteries will be installed in the Detroit-based auto maker’s electric cars in California and Arizona starting sometime next year, he said. Honda Motor Co. since May has used the nickel-metal hydride battery in the 40 electric cars sold in California. Toyota Motor Corp. has been testing the batteries with fleet users in 15 electric sport-utility vehicles since January 1996. GM and Toyota said the battery doubles the range of conventional lead-acid batteries, from 50 miles to about 100 miles between charges in the pickup and sport-utility. Honda said the battery runs about 80 miles between charges in real-world tests, in which consumers climb hills and use equipment such as air conditioners.