Plans are being made for electric car batteries after their shelf life ends, even before the cars are on the road. Detroit Free Press reported on this phenomenon in late September.

General Motors plans to launch the Chevrolet Volt in November, using batteries as the main supply of energy for the car. Reportedly, GM is planning on the batteries lasting for ten years in the car before a new battery will have to be installed into the vehicles. After car use, there may be five to ten more years of use available from each battery.

GM will work with ABB Group, a Switzerland company that specializes in power technologies, to find new uses for these used batteries. There is potential for use in electric grid storage, according freep.com.

Auto Shippers applauds the forward thinking of General Motors in all aspects of the Volt effort – and is impressed by the plans to recycle these batteries.