The 40-mile battery is extremely difficult because it requires a very large, sophisticated battery with 300 cells where if any one cell fails the whole battery can stop working, plus complex software and control equipment just to prevent overheating; outside critics argued a 20-mile battery would have been much easier and less risky.

factualpending

Speaker

Jonathan Rauch

Evidence Quote

a very sophisticated battery with 300 cells and at any one of which goes out the whole battery stops working

Source

Jonathan Rauch on the Volt, Risk, and Corporate Culture 09/01/2008EconTalk
Created: 6/16/2026, 2:36:26 PM

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