GM announced plans Tuesday to roll out a second-generation version of the GM Hybrid system with a more powerful lithium-ion battery. The announcement comes just weeks after GM vice chairman Robert Luft called global warming a "total crock of s***."

The new system, powered by a Hitachi-supplied advanced lithium-ion battery, is expected to be nearly three times more powerful than the system it replaces. Overall fuel economy improvements for cars and trucks using the system are expected to rise up to 20%, depending on engine and vehicle application. informationweek.com